Ramana Maharshi

“If the mind is happy, not only the body but the whole world will be happy. So one must find out how to become happy oneself. Wanting to reform the world without discovering one’s true self is like trying to cover the whole world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes.”

This reading has so much in it. Some I agree with, some prompts questions, some seems plainly humorous.

The mind’s happiness does affect the body. Science is catching up with the mind-body connection. Psychoneuroimmunology studies the connection between emotional and psychological health with that of the immune system and the body. What we think truly does affect how we feel and live.

“The whole world will be happy” makes me wonder a bit. Is it that our perspective will then cause us, with our happiness, to perceive the world in a way that does not jeopardize that happiness. Or is it that our being happy will have a ripple affect on those around us?

Finding out “how to become happy oneself” makes so much sense. Instead of depending on other people or things to make oneself happy, finding it independent of outside sources allows stability in one’s happiness even when those outside sources are inconsistent.

“It is much simpler to wear shoes.” That seems simple and funny to me. It reminds me of something a grandparent or wise person would say in a heart-to-heart talk with a younger person. It’s also about taking responsibility for yourself. Take care of your needs (wear shoes), as it is impractical to completely eliminate everything that could hurt you (cover world with leather to avoid walking on stones and thorns).

Overall, the messages of pursuing happiness, knowing oneself, and taking care of yourself are so important. I know wisdom stands the test of time, though somehow it strikes me that something written so long ago is still so relevant.

Tu-Shun

This was such a beautiful reading. What struck me was the beautiful imagery, as well as the concept of connectedness.

“Imagine a vast net; at each crossing point there is a jewel; each jewel is perfectly clear and reflects all the other jewels in the net…” What a beautiful mental image.

Then the application of it…
“Every jewel is intimately connected with all other jewels in the universe, and a change in one jewel means a change, however slight, in every other jewel. Thus, by liberating yourself, you liberate all beings in the universe.”

When I read that, what came to mind was the power in connectedness. “Liberating” brought to mind a scene from a movie called The Hiding Place. In the scene, jewish women were in a concentration camp, all crammed into a room, many women per bunk bed. They were very much connected. When one had good news or something positive to say, they all huddled around to hear it. What they shared affected them all. They were in it together, and shared life together in a very intimate and deep way that many people since have not shared. They were connected.

How are we connected as people living in 2009? Do we realize we are connected to each other? Are we connected to people who lived in the past? What about future generations? Past technology? Future technology? Everything truly is connected. Time is a continuum, not something that is here now and gone tomorrow. Sure, a moment is now, but ultimately time, nature, people, experiences, everything is connected. What do we choose to do with that connection? One mark on a jewel affects all other jewels in the net. So one healing action can also affect all other jewels in the net. What a powerful opportunity.

Chief Seattle

I agree Chief Seattle’s speech to Governor Stevens was very sad. Chief Seattle was very passionate about his people, the land, and the injustice his people were being subjected to. There is such hopelessness as he says, “It matters little where we spend the rest of our days. They are not many.”

Although this was a very serious topic for him to speak on, somehow I appreciated his facetiousness. I don’t mean to minimize the awfulness of the experiences he was referring to. It took boldness to speak so plainly, yet his personality and emotion came through in his speech. He expressed his passion for his people, using examples of men, women, and children being affected. He talked about the land in a way that expressed his people’s reverence for it.

Chief Seattle’s faithfulness to his people was very clear. He wanted both the living and the dead to be treated with respect. He talked about God loving the white man but abandoning His red children. The way I see it, the white man overlooked an incredible opportunity to show the very love they were professing.

Chief Seattle said, “So let him be just and deal kindly with my people.” I wonder how things would have been different if that would have done in the beginning of their interactions.

Sa-go-ye-wat-ha

I thought the way Sa-go-ye-wat-ha responded was interesting. He employed some great means of communication in his speech. He started by acknowledging their meeting was Sovereignly directed. This showed an openness on his part to their meeting. Next he states they listened attentively and will give their honest reaction. He also indicates they are one in their response. This is important as it solidifies their standing before the missionary.

I appreciate Sa-go-ye-wat-ha’s recounting of his people’s history and acknowledging what has been lovingly provided for his people by their creator. Also acknowledged is his people’s compassionate welcoming of the white man who had fled wicked men in pursuit of religious freedom.

A great question Sa-go-ye-wat-ha asks is why the white man differs so much about their religion, if there is only one religion and one book. I guess the answer to that is that somewhere in there, man’s hand must be getting in the way of the one divine truth the white man was saying he represented.

I thought it was interesting that Sa-go-ye-wat-ha said they did not want to destroy the white man’s religion or to take it from them, but that they only wanted to enjoy their own religion. That was a peaceful response, especially considering such loss his people suffered at the hand of some white men.

Sa-go-ye-wat-ha showed wisdom in saying his people were acquainted with their white neighbors the missionary had preached to, and they were going to give it some time to see what results would come of his preaching. If the results were positive, they would then reconsider what the white man said. (Not only is it common sense, but he was also applying a Scriptural principle of testing prophecies and people who say they are prophets of God. I wonder what the missionary thought of that. Sadly, his refusal to shake hands after the speech and blessing for safe travel home, suggests he wasn’t open to allowing that time for observation, and he probably closed the door to future communications.)

I found some of Sa-go-ye-wat-ha’s language and message to be beautiful. “We go to sleep content, and we wake up with gratitude to the Great Spirit. With renewed strength in our limbs, and bounding joy in our hearts, we feel blessed.” I think that is such a basic yet powerful reminder to really be thankful for the simple things in life.

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