“The principles that underlie all major religions may be stated very simply,” Easwaran writes in this week’s reading, pages 149–153 from Climbing the Blue Mountain:*
“All life, the entire phenomenal world, has as its basis something completely divine.
It is possible for everyone to know this divine ground of all existence.
Life has only one purpose: not to make money, nor to enjoy pleasure, nor to achieve success, nor to attain fame, but to know and be united with this divine ground, which we call God.”
We can verify these truths in our own life – not through the senses, which as finite instruments cannot reach the infinite – but by undergoing universal disciplines, “the purpose of which is to still the mind so that it can reveal, like the still waters of a crystal lake, the divinity at its uttermost depths.” Our united efforts as a satsang are bringing us closer to this great goal.
Identify something in your life that you find confusing at this time, and where you wish you could ask Easwaran for his tips. See what he has to say in our readings. How can you apply his words to your situation?
As we continue our Putting Others First exercises, we are looking for ways to deepen them, for example by practicing more consistently or via a bit of extra effort or preparation.
Easwaran writes, “Exercising discrimination is part of being kind. We need to combine a soft heart with a hard nose.” This week, watch for examples of people who exercise good discrimination and are able to be warm-hearted yet firm when necessary. Are there situations when you can exercise this skill yourself?
In four weeks, on June 9th, the eSatsang will begin studying Easwaran’s The Constant Companion. To prepare, make sure you have the book available.
For readers living in the United States, the print book is available here on our BMCM web store. Electronic versions are available worldwide and are also linked from that page.
Here is the cover of the edition we’ll be using:
* For those using electronic versions of Climbing the Blue Mountain with different page numbering: this week’s reading is the first half of the chapter “The Candle of the Lord,” ending with “…glory and effulgence.”