“Wild Horses” : Lessons in Judgment
by Swami Dhyan Moulik
One of my favorite parables told by Osho is from the series “Until You Die”. It’s about judgment.
For those not familiar with the story, here’s a summary. An old man had a beautiful horse that was greatly admired. He received many offers to buy the horse, but the old man refused to sell it, saying that the horse was like a friend to him. One day, the horse escaped. The old man’s neighbors believe that the disappearance was a sure sign of misfortune for him. The old man responded, “Don’t go too far. Simply say that the horse is not in the stable. This is the fact. Everything else is a judgment. Whether it is a misfortune or not, how do you know?” A few months later the horse returned, accompanied by several other beautiful, wild horses. The old man’s neighbors congratulated him on his good fortune. However, the old man simply stayed with the fact: His horse had come back, bringing other horses with it. The old man had a son, who began working with the horses to train them. One day, the boy fell from a horse and broke his leg. The villagers expressed sadness about this misfortune, but the old man once more remained with the facts and did not interpret the event as good or bad.
A short while later the country was invaded, and all the young men of the village had to go and fight in the war. However, the old man’s son was spared military service because of the injuries to his leg. This parable speaks to me because I am aware of my own tendency to judge. Through the reactions of the villagers, this story is a fresh reminder to me that the very same event can be seen in both positive and negative terms, depending upon my frame of reference and my own state of mind.
For me, then, the story is a lesson in not being too quick to decide once and for all about people and situations. Instead, maybe there is some wisdom in simply being open to seeing how the events of life will unfold further. Who knows? Maybe it is not a disaster that my wife left, nor is it necessarily a blessing that I keep my present job. The fact is, I don’t have all of the answers, and I don’t know what’s coming next. In the same discourse, Osho says about judgment:
“It will close you. It will be a deadness within. Your sensitivity will be lost, and with it your possibility for growth. The moment you judge, you shrink; the moment you judge, you stop; the moment you judge, you are no longer flowering.” (Until You Die, Chapter 2).
And this is my experience: When I judge, something in me closes. When I judge someone else, I tend to close off to that person. My judgments seem to freeze time, as if everything and everyone will always be like this. Judging doesn’t seem to acknowledge the fact that life is an ongoing process that, so far at least, hasn’t come to an end point. When I remember this, I am a lot more relaxed and open, enjoying life more and demanding less from it. Now when something happens in my life, my horse or wife leaves for example, I find myself willing to suspend immediate judgment. Through meditation I can feel more space within, and more distance from the flow of thoughts that is quick to judge. There are times, of course, when I forget. But I remain grateful to Osho for stories like this that serve as reminders along the way.
(Published with permission from the author: previously publsihed sometime ago in Viha Connection)
Judgement
ˈdʒʌdʒm(ə)nt/
noun
noun: judgement; plural noun: judgements; noun: judgment; plural noun: judgments
1.
The ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.
“an error of judgement”
synonyms: discernment, acumen, shrewdness, astuteness, common sense, good sense, sense, perception, perspicacity, percipience, penetration, acuity, discrimination, wisdom, wit, native wit, judiciousness, prudence, sagacity, understanding, intelligence, awareness, canniness, sharpness, sharp-wittedness, cleverness, powers of reasoning, reason, logic; informalnous, savvy, know-how, horse sense, gumption, grey matter;
informalcommon;
informalsmarts;
raresapience, arguteness
“the incident showed the extent to which his temper could affect his judgement”
in my opinion, to my mind, in my view, to my way of thinking, I believe, I think, as I see it, if you ask me, personally, in my book, for my money, in my estimation
“in my judgement, such things should be forbidden”
an opinion or conclusion.
“they make subjective judgements about children’s skills”
a decision of a law court or judge.
“county court judgements against individuals in debt”
synonyms: verdict, decision, adjudication, ruling, pronouncement, decree, finding, conclusion, determination; sentence
“a county-court judgement”
2.
A misfortune or calamity viewed as a divine punishment.
“the events of last week are a judgement on us for our sinful ways”
synonyms: punishment, retribution, penalty; just deserts
“the crash had been a judgement on them for their wickedness”
I don`t know why, but that reminds me of a guy I was friendly with.
He was telling me about how little he had enjoyed his appearance as a defendant at the local magistrates court.
“I fookin `ate those magistrates,” he opined in his characteristic Manc accent. “It`s the way they look at you.”
“How`s that?”I asked.
“You know, so fookin` judgmental…”
Of course, the story of the old man and the horses is beautiful. But stories, parables and fables are not absolute guides for action, however poignant and well presented.
For example, how many sannyasins seeing Sheela in felony mode on the Ranch, struggled with themselves, admonishing themselves “not to judge”?
When you reduce a fable or a story to a set meaning or a moral, you lose something of the story. Like having to explain a joke. Best to just let the story act on you and if any commentary is to be made, remember it will have to be only provisional and not absolute….
“For example, how many sannyasins seeing Sheela in felony mode on the Ranch, struggled with themselves, admonishing themselves “not to judge”?”
I find it useful to think of exercising a bit of discernment and being judgmental as different.
“Being judgmental” has a pejorative meaning that implies not just ‘of judging’, as in, for example, ‘incremental’ means ‘of increments’.
The story of the old man and the horses is not about “being judgmental” in today’s` everyday use of the word.
You could say that the story is about suspending (immediate) judgment in order to access better (overall) judgment.
But it is about the absence of judgment on his part, as in glass is half-empty, whereas his neighbours were being judgemental, glass is half-empty, about what was going on.
…so I asked my friend why he was up in court in the first place.
He said he was caught rolling a joint.
“That`s a bit harsh,” I replied.
“Yeah, they got me on CCTV.”
“Bloody hell, it`s worse than 1984, it`s a police state, fascist bastards!” I replied, outraged.
“Where did this take place?” I asked.
“In Lloyds bank….”
That happened to you, didn’t it? Hahahahah.
“What did you get, then?” I asked him.
“I had a bit of previous, so they gave me 6 months.”
“Shit, that`s terrible,” I replied.
“Not really,” he shrugged.
“it was best holiday I ever had! Plus, I got really good at pool, did a lot of painting and learned to write.”
Looking back, I realised he was an undercover underclass Zen master sent to give me a teaching about judgment….
Well, you two have nailed it, I reckon.
IE the qualitative difference between condemnatory and discriminating judgment: the one towards the more gross end of the psychic scale, the other altogether ‘finer’.
Occurs to me discernment is to do with experience, openness to experience, willingness to learn from experience, whereas judgemental is rigid adherence to a set of ideas, even if experience says the ideas aren’t working out, a rigid clinging to a set of ideas in the face of meaningful opposition, rigid identification with a set of ideas. Fear of, resistance to change, experience etc.
Judgement :
Letting oneself off the hook. The pay-off of the hook. The advantage one assumes from the hook. The competition one is in, with the hook. Angling in secret strategy. Perpetuating the hook. The sadness, the weakness, the separation, the story. Playing the hooker. Having to hook. Being nothing more than a hook. Believing there is only the question, that hooks. Addiction. Competition, being outwitted. Loss. The wife left. Threw away the hook. I have no-one left to believe in my hook. She was such a good hooker. I’ll stop believing, strip myself of consequence. I’ll make believe, because the hook hurts.
Drop the hook.
Or it will land you in it.
—–
SOS (by Leonard Cohen)
Take a long time with your anger,
sleepy head.
Don’t waste it in riots.
Don’t tangle it with ideas.
The Devil won’t let me speak,
will only let me hint
that you are a slave,
your misery a deliberate policy
of those in whose thrall you suffer,
and who are sustained
by your misfortune.
The atrocities over there,
the interior paralysis over here–
Pleased with the better deal?
You are clamped down.
You are being bred for pain.
The Devil ties my tongue.
I’m speaking to you,
‘friend of my scribbled life’.
You have been conquered by those
who know how to conquer invisibly.
The curtains move so beautifully,
lace curtains of some
sweet old intrigue:
the Devil tempting me
to turn away from alarming you.
So I must say it quickly.
Whoever is in your life,
those who harm you,
those who help you;
those whom you know
and those whom you do not know –
let them off the hook,
help them off the hook.
Recognize the hook.
You are listening to Radio Resistance.
I always liked this story. And I don’t much mind Moulik’s commentary on it. A good effort, as my old English teacher used to say.
I must say I never thought of it being a teaching parable about judgement, and have never read Osho’s commnetary in ‘Until You Die’.
I always saw it in a more Kiplingesque sort of way:
“If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same…”
And as Kipling, as I remember, finishes the poem, such development and independence of character makes you a mature man.
And let the Stones get in on the act, though you would have a job trying to interpret their meaning!
“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn’t drag me away
I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don’t have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let’s do some living after we die.
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them some day
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them some day.”
Try this early version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XplOk3Do9Gg
I reckon they’d have a job working that out too…
But it’s all about ‘the energy’, innit?
Parmartha, in the version you linked to, the line that says: “Let’s do some living after we die” is not sung that way by Jagger. Everywhere I have looked on the internet the line is: “Let’s do some living after we die.” But the way Jagger sings it is better. That is my judgement, or opinion, or whatever. What Jagger actually sings, in this version, just after the 4:00 minute mark is: “Let’s do some living after love dies.”
Is some insignificant piece of gratuitous scribble worth the trouble? Really? Mick’n'Keef would probably laugh in your face if they knew you were bothering to work out something that took them a few minutes and a joint or two to put away.
Yes, I attended the discourse that this wise story comes from and it is one of those stories that has remained with me since I first heard it all those years ago.
Judgements? Adopting the attitude that being non-judgemental is better than being judgemental is ironic because one has to be judgemental about it to come to such a conclusion.
The story, like all good stories, is open to interpretation. Right now, it seems to me to be about living here and now being a sensible foundation to base one’s life on, in order to deal with life’s trials and tribulations. Being human, our perception of the big picture is extremely limited. As in, say, viewing a vast natural panorama through a very small keyhole. One thing leads to another and the possible permutations are infinite.
We have not a clue what lies around the next corner and therefore one step at a time is the best way to proceed. Feeling grateful for the blessings and learning from the apparent curses.
Osho says, “Your sensitivity will be lost, and with it your possibility for growth.” Once upon a time, I am quite sure I could relate to this. Growth was a big word back in those days. If I question as to who or what it is that imagines themselves to be growing and in what direction, I actually now draw a complete blank. Could it be that this whole idea of growth is a myth, just another way for the ego to polish its already gleaming surface?
If one drops the notion of needing to grow and accepts that who and what one is, or is not, is perfectly acceptable, with no need for further embellishment, or polishing, or growth…then what? Well, for a start, the whole inner growth business will go bankrupt. The idea that we need to be something better than we already are provides a lot of employment. No guru, no master, no teacher. Imagine.
“Judgements? Adopting the attitude that being non-judgemental is better than being judgemental is ironic because one has to be judgemental about it to come to such a conclusion.”
Not necessarily, one can reach such a conclusion through discernment, discrimination. Have you learned nothing from recent exchanges here?! Write out Arpana’s latest post 500 times!
Re ‘personal growth’, I’m sure you’re right, but the thing is, before reaching that point of mature self-acceptance many have first to overcome the effects of early trauma, chronic fear, self-repressive patterns etc. etc., not to mention any self-limiting or otherwise misplaced beliefs, attitudes, behavioural patterns etc. etc. imbibed from family, school and the wider society. All that, in greater or lesser degrees, plus, well, life experience.
Still, I suspect things have greatly improved, at least in the West, since our generation’s battles with its conditioning (itself the conditioning of many previous generations) so younger people might well be finding it easier to get there than we, or many of us, did.
Good post, SD. In general I am only really getting into judging someone if I have to. Can I trust this person, etc.? Osho himself was extremely judgemental. Of course, him being enlightened and all that put him beyond all judgements…ha ha, what a laugh.
SD says, “Still, I suspect things have greatly improved, at least in the West, since our generation’s battles with its conditioning (itself the conditioning of many previous generations) so younger people might well be finding it easier to get there than we, or many of us, did.”
I kind of doubt that. They are too busy being held prisoner by their ‘cell’ phones. Most young people would not have a clue what you were referring to when speaking about conditioning…is that a hair product?
The kids want stuff and more stuff and that is about it. I do not believe any real evolution is taking place on a grand scale, and if it is it is very slow and almost imperceptible. That said, a lot of my young friends do seem to have things worked out better than say the sixties generation. They are not so spaced out.
“In general I am only really getting into judging someone if I have to. Can I trust this person, etc.? Osho himself was extremely judgemental.”
Interesting that you rationalise your own judgementalness, by citing a man whom you so obviously look down on.
Oh dear, bit of a judgement there, Arps. You mean to say that you do not see that Osho was extremely judgemental?
Not in the way you judge him.
More to the discerning end, methinks.
I would say, Lokesh, you must have had a fabulous good swimming in the ocean these days, and glad that you came up with this (comment from the depths of living)
Will give it a try to send off my ´thank you´ button…as I have not been allowed in, so far, for quite a while.
With love,
Madhu
Just returned from a swim. Bit of an obstacle course due to a jellyfish invasion. Got stung on my face last week and it hurt. Then again, swimming through a swarm of purple jellyfish is a great focusing exercise and if you stay present you miss the booby prize of painful stings. Nine times out of ten if I get stung it was because I spaced out from where I am. Ehm…could there be some sort of message being broadcast from Jellyfish Central? Step at a time, or in this case, stroke.
Nice reading, Lokesh. That you have recognised and live with no need for teachers, or gurus or for “growth”.
But how have you come to your current understanding? Through teachers, reading, Life experience and growth. You’ve grown out of childish notions, grown in understanding, explored your mind and your feelings.
All of which came through effort and a recognition that you needed to change, to develop, to explore, to move outside the boundaries of your conditioning and your limited ideas.
In doing so, you reached a point where you ‘saw’ the futility of this endless journey and stopped. The mind, with all its endless seeking, was brought under a form of control by the greater intelligence in you.
Could it have have happened without all that trouble? Not for you. Not for me either.
Nevertheless, isn’t the difficult path to this understanding part of the inevitable journey? Unavoidable?
You are right, of course, in describing how this endless need for change and “growth” does become part of the problem.
Indeed, I’d say that so much of my need to grow and change was partly a reaction and response to just seeing the simplicity. I actually wanted to “grow”, to avoid the truth: this being the hard, cold facts of who I am, rather than who I wanted to be (the self avoids, wherever possible, its own death).
So you’re right, there is a growth business, going nowhere much, but perhaps, in the greater scheme of things, part of the process towards better realising the endless nature of the seeker. Who knows?
I know that I now meet young people who are far more realised of this deeper truth, far more embedded in it. But very few, in my experience, can also avoid the journey ‘out into the world’, with all its distractions and confusion. None I meet don’t also need the confirmation from others of the state within, that they doubt.
We all have needed real, deep comfirmation of the state of existence beyond the mind, and the confidence to both express and live that truth. The world is so often (not always) antagonistic to this state, and we require confirmation from others, of it.
Hi Simond,
Thanks for the personal response. The last thing I would ever recommend is to do things ‘My Way’. Apart from anything else, it would require a protracted sojourn through Seventh Hell and I can’t honestly say it would be worth it. Some days, I look in the mirror and am surprised to see a healthy and somewhat happy face looking back at me, because I do not always feel happy or healthy.
If asked how I came to arrive in my current state I would have to say, with more than a little help from my friends, having a great family, a lot of love and friendship in my life, living in a marvellous place, plenty of exercise, the need to seek exhausted and having met great people like Osho and Poonjaji.
If someone were to ask if one needs to embark on a spiritual journey to reach that which is most worthwhile in life I would say, no, it is not needed because a journey implies going somewhere and all of worth exists right here. Likewise, the idea of a spiritual path brings with it the notion of having to get there when what you seek is always here and it is that which does the seeking which is actually the destination.
Gurus and teachers are useful, up to a point. Then it is up to you. Take the best and forget the rest, and in my experience there usually is a rest that you can do without. There comes a point where all the guidance one needs in life is always available…inside. The need for an external teacher will remain until you hook up with the real teacher, which is in essence who you really are.
Enlightenment you can forget about. Nothing you do can make enlightenment happen. In recent times, eastern gurus promoted the idea that enlightenment was something to be had. The ultimate golden carrot. It is all nonsense and no more spiritual than desiring, say, the latest model of car or the chick next door with the perfect breasts or ass.
If you want to learn surrender no need to head east and bow down at the latest enlightened one’s feet. All you need is at least one baby to take care of.
What is it all about? The human realm is all about the infinite being confined to a world of limitations. If you are overidentified with those limitations to the extent you believe you are them…well, you have forgotten who you are. If you learn to identify with the infinite part of your self then you are remembering who you are.
Any real spiritual teacher will steer you in that direction. Osho called it witnessing. The trick about witnessing is that as long as you are aware that you are witnessing you are missing. The game is to get into a state of simple pure witnessing awareness with nothing separate.
If you can do that your death will be a breeze and you will see the body drop off like a well- worn overcoat. If not, you will enter the bardos and the wee speck of infinity that has traces of previous personality attached will eventually seek rebirth, where once again you will read all about it on SN. You heard it here,
Thanks, Lokesh, put very well. You’re back on form, these days.
On ‘Wild, Wild Horses’:
Whatever, I reckon it’s a great song, if not a great lyric, and Jagger clearly was movingly involved with it as he sang it, though the lyrics don’t make much sense.
His delivery was therefore, in my book, startling, and don’t know anyone who does it better.
I thought the lyrics made some sense when someone told me they were about his break-up with Marianne Faithfull, but Jagger himself says that is not what it is about.
The way Mick/Keef worked, was that Keef used to come up with the chord sequence, etc., and then Mick used to work on the words after the sequence had been established. I would say they worked on things like this song for rather longer than two spliffs!
Point taken re the “two spliffs” (I hadn’t actually seen the video until last night, I was just going by memories of the song).
As I suggested earlier, the power of this and most of the Stones’ stuff and of rock etc. itself is invariably mostly in ‘the energy’ rather than the lyrics, and for me this one is no exception. That’s essentially Mick Jagger’s special gift, to tap into his vital energy, with a magnificent totality, and transmit it, pristine and raw. The lyrics, well, barely worth commenting on, no matter how hypnotically engaging and memorable some of them might be.
All good, er, ‘lower chakra’ stuff – but, however wholehearted it might be, I generally don’t find a lot of ‘heart’ in the Stones’ music.
This came through the ether today and was relevant to the question of judgement. I know…I’m just quoting, not thinking for myself, a parrot, a Rev. – but hey, just occasionally a small quote…?
ENLIGHTENMENT IS NOW
You have to use effort to be free of effort. It is an effort to try to stop thinking but when you no longer think aimlessly, there is no effort. It takes effort to not get angry when provoked but when anger is surmounted, there is no effort. It takes effort to learn to drive a car or an aeroplane but when accomplished, there is no effort. Effort is the way of things until we get through the effort of giving up all our negativity and questions. It is an effort not to ask questions but when there are no questions, there is no effort. I trust you understand in your own experience what I am saying.
The witness can be described as the key to freedom because the witness, like any good witness, is impartial. The witness is free of judgment and choice. Where I come from, even the witness finally vanishes. But to get to the witness in the first instance, to get beyond judgments and choosing, is quite a spiritual state.
If you see your self thinking, you are not thinking. It is your self thinking. And you are not your self.
As thinking arises from the emotional self, thought will always be there while the emotions are allowed to control the responses to living. For that reason I urge people to get their life right. While your life is not right in any area, you will be emotional in that area. And each time you are confronted with that part of your life your emotional self will be disturbed and you won’t be able to stop thinking about the problem. So get your life right and gradually the incursive thinking habit will diminish and worry, being intense thinking, will trouble you far less.
Also, thinking is an entertaining habit. People get bored with the reality of now and start thinking aimlessly which is a pleasure to the emotional self. You must stop aimless thinking as soon as you perceive it. Then there is no thought. So why do you start thinking again?
Feeling a tad defensive, methinks, Rev.
Yes, paranoid, defensive and intimidated, Arpana. Scared out of my wits, confused, befuddled, lost, and afraid.
But with you, as a friend and mentor, I feel so much better.
Simond,
In your quote it says:
“It takes effort to learn to drive a car or an aeroplane but when accomplished, there is no effort.”
That is inaccurate and misleading.
Yes, it’s easier once you have mastered a skill and put it on ‘auto-pilot’ or ‘body-memory’ or whatever you want to call it, but it still takes effort. Otherwise, truckers and pilots would not need routine breaks!
`Effortlessness` is a turn of phrase, poetry even, not a literal thing.
“Impartial witnesses”.
“Non-judgment”.
“No-effort”.
“Unruffled doth the blue lake lie,
the mountains looking on”
“12-headed green and purple monsters that live on Mars drinking Bombay gin.”
Reality does not follow the same rules as language, and vice versa.
You are right , Frank. It does require effort, and he could have been clearer. Such is the confusion of language and interpretation. Never easy to say it perfectly.
However, is there an element of truth in what he is saying?
Is there anything of value?
‘Effortlessnes, Witnessing’ etc. isn’t easy to describe in language, is it?
But for me it has some substance and reality.
Does it for you?
Simond,
Tbh, it doesn’t do anything for me at all.
Sounds like yet another sit-down artist waffling on to his crowd of satsang junkies and no-mind flunkies, to me….
“There once was a man who said though,
It seems that I know that I know,
What I’d like to see,
Is the I that knows me,
When I know that I know that I know.”
“Yes, it’s easier once you have mastered a skill and put it on ‘auto-pilot’ or ‘body-memory’ or whatever you want to call it, but it still takes effort. Otherwise, truckers and pilots would not need routine breaks!”
Frank, that place is not effortless, you’re right, but not effortful either. Just in between. A marvellous and economical place to be.
Nice, Aparna, I like that description: “marvellous and economical”. Very to the point.
No need to bite me ‘ead off. Was only saying. (:
Rev, the day you can watch yourself ‘coming’ then do write in.
We’d love to know how you do it.
Otherwise, this witnessing bollocks is just a wank for the buddhist bourgeoisie and the three hour ‘mmmm’ ‘wanky wanky’ meetings with Mooji, Larry Bong, krishnamurti, even Osho et al.
Even if you get to noticing yourself in an altered state, and delay coming, postpone it, cover yourself in baby oil for three hours with the tantric manual at your bedside. Once you come… you’re fucked…in a nice way.
And that’s how it is.
Get over yourself and don’t follow those goons who lick statues for their kicks. Just do the loving thing…as best you can, and thats plenty to get on with.
What do you get on your birthday – a card wishing you lots of witnessing? Only love can make you witness – and that on a good day with the hormones flying about…Witnessing can’t buy you love – even if you book the weekend retreats on those cushions…Arse-wiping nonsense.
For a more rapport-building, insightful and harmonising comment, please purchase our ‘All-Inclusive Buddhist Bollocks’ insurance policy which will guarantee you lots of quiet moments in the company of colleagues, without overt emoting, over a cup of tea and biscuits in any Totnes Tea Shop where you see the ‘Just Sit in Your Aloneness’ sign for the over 50s. (Tuesday discount).
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Arpana,
Spread the love….
Ah, the old “All-Inclusive Buddhist Bollocks” policy.
Heard about that.
Marty,
Are you referring to the now legendary night in 1987 when Andrew Cohen`s Ultras over-confidently and foolishly tried to take Totnes Village Hall, but forgot to reckon with Psycho Simond, guv`nor of the West Dorset Satsang Droogies, who, armed to the teeth with Tibetan dorjes, sawn-off biscuit tins, Lemurian crystals, broken, cold-pressed apple and elderflower juice bottles and rock-hard toasted tea-cakes looted from the Tudor tearooms, gave their egos a bloody good hiding?
By the time the police arrived, there wasn`t a witness in sight.
Let me hear you say yeah!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiK4hBaf9J4
Frank,
“I’ll come quietly, officer, as I know what’s good for me.”
Or…
“I, I…What’s all this then, young-fella-me-lad…perrrsonel growwwwth then, ehhh? I’d-move-along, son, if yuu don’t wan’ y-u-ar developmen’ ayrrested, now there’s a good chap.”
“Righteeho, occifer, I mean your masterfulnnelness. Come on, Andy, let’s go phone your mum for a lift home.”
Frank,
Yes and whilst I was there, were you still sitting at the feet of the Indian guru, in red, mala round your neck, singing sweet songs of innocence about Bhagwan and the “Ocean”, arms aloft, swaying side to side, studiously doing your vipassana and dynamic in the dawn? Perhaps bearded, with wild hair, you saw yourself as the very embodiment of a true sanyassin. With a sex drive to match?
Hey, don’t we all have a chequered and colourful past? Or had you retired to the hills of Malvern, and were now looking at the self-sufficiency lifestyle?
Great days, uh?
Simond,
You ask:
“…and whilst I was there, were you still sitting at the feet of the Indian guru, in red, mala round your neck, singing sweet songs of innocence about Bhagwan and the “Ocean”, arms aloft, swaying side to side…?”
No way. At that point, I think I would have preferred a good scrap in a church hall any day.
I think you did well there.
Kicking satsang junkie ass is right livelihood in my book.
Finally, somebody talking about love here, it is as important as meditation. It was Osho’s first choice but his people quite didn’t get it. What a pity! Thanks for that, PM, and Lokesh as well. Cheers!
Tan,
Gracias, as they say in this part of the world from where I write…
Ahemm…
You obviously notice genuineness and integrity beyond the horizon of the mundane. I’m abashed like a red-cheeked fool and float in the graciousness of your unrequited comments, which I of course do not deserve.
P.S:
If I keep swimming I’m sure to meet Lokesh, anytime soon.
P.P.S: The new Sannyas-based project is about to start taking shape on Majorca, as I mentioned a few weeks back. Watch this space
(I feel some people may be watching my thoughts at this time…Which is a bit unintentionally spookily buddhistic…).
Couple of weeks back a woman in her fifties swam the 60 odd kilometres from Ibiza to Mallorca.
Lokesh, that swimming lady, she’s uniquely impressive.
She might even not be a reader of SN – and totally without the supporting spiritual insights of this reader/writership.
Which is astounding.
I must therefore either take up long-distance swimming or avoid writing on a ‘spiritual’ blogsite.
It’s a tough call….
Yes, the fact that she is not a sannyasin and does not know Shantam is truly astounding.
Who wet your feathers today? Take a breath or 2. It’s all working out fine, you’re just over-reacting. Is it a thyroid problem? The doctors can help with that these days.
The post above was a reply to PM, not you, Tan.
Just in case….
Thought to add to the mix:
Kalptaru, late 1970s?