Why spiritual shopping won't let you anywhere..

Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation is the cool thing today. Contrary to the previous century where Yoga and Meditation was only associated with mystics and ascetics, today it the modern day spiritualist's stress buster and a gateway to a higher plane where one can get a glimpse of the depth which life has to offer.

However, searching for a true master who can guide you through the maze of your own mind is a tricky business. Mind is a very clever thing. 

It exists in the pretext of diferrences and calms down in harmony.

It exists in desire that some great joy is there in future, but almost dissapears when we are in the present. 

It exists when we believe the future is greater than the present.

It exists when we believe that what we will have is more than what we have.

It exists in duality, dissapears in oneness.

By the sheer unfolding of circumstances, seemingly unplanned, we are led to a teacher who can help us get  a perspective, our mind starts finding reasons why that particular teacher is not your true master. A true master does not promise you rosy days and there will be trials and challenges. This is when we start thinking "Am I in the right place?" On the simplest pretext of uncomfort we try to run away from that Guru or Organization. The mind simply wants to continue existing. 

And the same thing happens when you are at another place, with another Guru. A little discomfort and your mind goes "Even This organization is not for me! I will be better off somewhere else!"

Spiritual Shopping -  A tendency to hop from Guru to Guru, from temple to temple, from organization to organization in the hope of gaining true knowledge. This is a trap. A very deadly one on the path. 

Because true knowledge can only blossom from deep within you when  your mind is silenced. And how will the mind be silenced when you are hopping from one concept to another, not trusting the words of any one teacher. 

That's why perhaps in the Eastern Tradition tremendous importance is given to the teahers words. First comes faith and then proof.  

Even those who are confirmed that they have found their Guru fall for the temptations of the mind. Feeding on the lengthy discourses of intellectuals believing that simply more words means more substance. The true blossoming of a disciple happens only in the Silent communication with a realized master. 

When you come to a Guru, you need to empty your cup!

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"