Quantum Physics can now show us that when a thought arises, it takes a split second for the brain to react, and for the mind/ego to take possession of the thought and say, “It is my thought.” According to brain surgeon, Benjamin Libet, “A personal awareness of that choice comes about one half second later than a readiness potential that appears in the brain wave,” which, as Ramesh Balsekar pointed out, suggests, “Thus there can be no free will.”
Another philosopher and 18th century scientist, David Hume, said, “Because of the delay in how the nervous system works, the self only sees what has already occurred.” This theory eliminates guilt if we are not the doer of actions, as we have believed.
Nisargadatta Maharaj takes it a step further and says, “When enlightenment dawns, you will realize that you were never born, nor have you carried out any worldly actions.”
Another reason why we are not the doer of actions is because nothing exists but consciousness. So, if everything is made up of the same substance, everything happens simultaneously as one. There is no separate ‘I’ trying to be something. This oneness eliminates the ‘I did it’ belief and subsequently the guilt that always follows.
Spiritual practice is an attempt to reform or transform a nonexistent self or subject I. These spiritual and scientific truths reveal that we are not really here doing anything, so how can ego/guilt even exist? Our essence is already with our Source and has never been separate.
Most people are perplexed and wonder how they can bring this teaching into their life, the teaching that life itself is illusory and a dream. If we believe this dream is real, we make it real; it’s like actors in a movie forgetting they are actors and believing they are the characters they are playing, even after the filming stops.
But like the actors who know who they are, we too have only to remember that we are not one with these names or personalities that we are identified with and are playing out as actors. It also serves us to recognise that we do nothing of our own volition. When we really, deeply, understand this, we can rest assured in what Ramana Maharshi said when he referred to the Force knowing every action that needs to be taken and will see to it that it takes those actions.
This is where true peace begins, not unlike sitting in the back seat of a luxurious Rolls Royce that is being driven by an expert chauffeur. As you sit there enjoying the ride, you can feel all the burdens and guilt that you’ve been carrying dissolve. You will stop worrying, you will trust again while feeling free from your own neurotic perfectionism. Your striving and struggling will drop away and whatever actions you do will arise naturally and without any struggle. You won’t be attached to the results, and you will see these actions unfolding effortlessly.
You will make a better spouse, parent, child, worker, employer and friend. Hate will be non-existent, compassion will grow and you will rest in this great Force, finally free from the dream and of the laws that chain you because you will no longer believe yourself to be limited to this body. You will realise your limitless-ness. Your inspiration will flow, no longer blocked by these limiting programs and identifications.
So you’ll actually be, ‘In the world but not of it,’ and carried on the wave of the great Force forever.
Comments are closed.