Saturday, February 14, 2009

Morning meditation - It is extraordinary to realize one's ordinariness


"What makes equality such a difficult business is that we only want it with our superiors."

Henry Becque


We all want to be special. We all want to be recognized and loved. Some of us want to have a little more than our peers so we can feel superior and be looked up to.

The ego is quite a trickster and while it claims to want what is best for us, in the long run usually contributes mostly damage and destruction for us and our fellows in the long run. If you doubt this idea, look around. You will see evidence every where you look.

It is very unusual to observe the person who is selfless, who has risen above his/her ego, who is enlightened and compassionately works for the good of all. I try to be that kind of person, but often fail especially when I am hungry, angry, lonely, and/or tired.

I have started praying more during the day, asking God to help me do God's will and not my own, to reach out to others in constructive ways and not in selfish ways, to help me observe the grace and blessings and be grateful instead of cynical, negative, and complaining. Interestingly, I find that it helps me feel better and focus more efficiently and effectively on what is important in life.

I like associating with my inferiors and when I find the divine spark in each one of them I drop the comparing which is the problem in the first place. I realize that I am not special and unique, I am ordinary just like everyone else. This realization of ordinariness is very humbling and then liberating.

Jesus and Buddha knew they were ordinary in their extraordinary way and it was in their extraordinary awareness of their ordinariness that they became enlightened.

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