4. Morality is Skin-deep
Our concept of sin is a social concept. Our connotations of sin are social. Morality is a rule, a code. It is a way to cause the fear of sin in common man.
Every sincere spiritual seeker should have a sense of morality born out of his own understanding of what is right and wrong.
We should examine morality from the point of view of our own awareness. Let us not blindly follow a set rule or the dictates of the codes of morality created by society.
By following such codes blindly, we are causing more harm to ourselves than good. Such codes wound our Being. Our concept of morality has to be totally based on our understanding. Morality should not be carved out of greed or fear. Any morality based on greed or fear or social norms is only skin deep. It doesn't touch our heart. Our values don't shine from the depths of our Being.
A small story:
Three women died on earth and reached the court of Yama - the Lord of Death. Here, they awaited their final judgment to be delivered by Yama.
Yama asked the first woman, 'Did you lead a pure and faithful life?'
The woman replied, 'Yes, I led a very chaste life. I never even looked at a man other than my husband.'
Yama then checked her life record and verified the truth of her claims. He gave her a golden key and sent her to a special room in heaven.
Yama then asked the same question to the second woman. She replied, 'I have committed a sin by thinking of another man in my mind. However, physically, I have been pure and faithful to my husband.'
Yama said, 'I cannot treat you in the same way as I did the previous lady.' He gave her a silver key and sent her to an ordinary room in heaven.
When it was the turn of the third woman, Yama asked the same question. The lady replied, 'My Lord, I am an actress. I have done things that you can imagine and cannot imagine as well. I am quite prepared to accept any punishment you decide to hand me.'
Yama looked to the left and then to the right, and handed her a key and whispered in her ear, 'Alright, here is my room key!'
If we have been conditioned thoroughly by society, or are a religious fanatic, we will be furious at this story. However, if we are spiritual we will know that right and wrong, sin and merit, live only in our minds. Ofcourse, this is not a license to live as we please. Understand: morality has to happen in you as a mere byproduct of the right intelligence flowering in you. It is not to be imposed by any outer agency. An intelligent one will be moral automatically.
5. Accept your Doubts and Move on
People ask me questions about the state of being enlightened. Some think that when enlightenment happens, they have to give up their family, friends, business, and their life will turn upside down.
The truth is that your lifestyle will not turn upside down. Your life will be more fulfilling, and you will enjoy everything in your life deeply.
People also wonder what it means to be enlightened. They ask me: is it the highest state of spiritual awareness? Were you materialistic before enlightenment and spiritual only after that? I tell you:: there is no rule that you should be materialistic before and spiritual after. You can be spiritual before as well. Either way, you are greedy for something or the other either material things or spiritual things, that's all. When you try to become something, it is material. When you try to become someone, you are spiritual. Until enlightenment, you are one or the other. Upon enlightenment you are as you are. You are enjoying everything; you are joyful; yet you are not attached to anything.
Enlightenment is not a state of mind. It is beyond mind. Do not bring words into this. Enlightenment is not anything.
An enlightened person always asks the question, 'what can I do?' They always want to know what they have to do. Their question always is, 'what can I do for you?' They are neither worried nor concerned about what others have to do for them.
This is a high-level technique what I am going to give you: do not ask for a method. It is simple. Follow it from today. Just tell yourself that you are enlightened. Accept yourself as you are. Don't think of improving yourself or improving someone else. Tell yourself: I am in the state I am supposed to be. Believe it deeply.
Be relaxed. Express your utter relaxation in everything you do. Tell your mind, your emotions, your being: 'I am enlightened'. If your mind expresses doubts, accept the doubts and move on.
Doubts are like a dog that barks at an elephant. Does the elephant even care? Doubts have no existence of their own. They will survive only if you feed them. Doubts will recede as you face them and accept them.
Change your entire focus to enlightenment. Realize that you are enlightened. Simply drop the idea that you should be or will be someone else when you are enlightened. Just accept whatever life brings to you. Accept that your mind has doubts; just accept that and move on.
Turn your mind inwards. Enjoy all the bubbles of joy from within. Watch your breath without controlling it and turn your mind inward. Enlightenment lies within. It is to be experienced, not to be analysed.