In January 2007, amid the morning rush hour, a busker was seen at a subway station in Washington, D.C. Dressed in normal attire, Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical musicians in the world, stood playing one of the most expensive violins to date. He played some of the most elegant music ever written, from some of the most talented composers and artists around the world.
One thousand and ninety-seven people, who walked past that morning, barely noticed him, failing to connect, engage or be present. In just under an hour, he accrued over 30 dollars. But what is fascinating is that three days prior to this, the very same person had filled out an entire arena where some seats sold for $100 dollars each.
This was actually a social experiment, conducted by The Washington Post, to observe people’s perceptions, priorities, and behaviour. What we learn from the experiment is that beauty, which is an eternal quality that never wanes or diminishes, is easily missed when we go about our day in a routine led, semi-conscious state. Wonderful things can also be overlooked when we happen upon them unexpectedly. In fact, we miss the most incredible things in life just because they are not presented, packaged, or manufactured in a particular format. Our attention drifts, as we lose ourselves in material pursuits. We fail to tune in or use our own intuition.
There is another lesson to be taken from the experiment, which relates to the negative stereotypes and prejudices we hold. In this instance, why give a mere busker any real attention? Our class ridden society does not encourage us to give a subway artist even a glance. It is the assumptions we hold, based on appearance, socio-economic status (and sometimes religion, culture, diet, and other factors) which become the cause of our narrow thinking and division.
Throughout the ages, saints and sages have been coming to return us to a more open-minded, equitable way of seeing and perceiving. They come to reconnect us to our true identity. Their spiritual teachings allow us not just to introspect, but to wipe away the pollution of ignorance and hatred, which enables us to rise above the trivial ‘me and mine’ attitude and connect to ‘thee and thine’ perspective. This allows us to respect fellow beings and appreciate the world around us. Such vision becomes a precursor to spreading goodness to others, so much so that we feel inspired to care for and serve the entire human race as if it were our very own family.
Through the wisdom shared by saintly souls, we realise there is one common thread which binds us together. We become aware of the filters we have become accustomed to applying, which allows us to reflect on our choices and decisions. Are the filters we hold helpful to us, or have they become a habitual, unconsidered approach to living? A reflective experience of this kind happened during one of my visits in India, which I’d like to share.
Whilst on route to a destination in Delhi, a conversation regarding a personal matter took place between Mata Savinder ji and a saint who was travelling in the vehicle. As the conversation approached its conclusion, Mata ji glanced towards the rear of the vehicle and asked one of the passengers, ‘are you pondering over this exchange?’
The passenger, also a devoted saint, had been in a state of trance. When called upon however, she replied, ‘Mata ji, the only sound that reached my ears was the beautiful sound of your angelic voice. I did not hear anything, other than this.’
This saint had been presented with a choice – a choice of what to focus upon and what to ignore. She had been so engrossed with the beauty, nectar, and the tone of Mata ji’s voice that she had not permitted the content of the discussion to reach her ears! She had decided the matter was a private and confidential discussion, which she had no right to eavesdrop upon.
Whether it is the subway performance, or the car journey through India, much may be learned about the foundations for living well. We perfect our lives through awakened existence, which allows us to actively select the filters and lenses we applyin any given situation. The way we look, see, and hear becomes the basis for how we interpret matters. Through interpretation, we find meaning. How we experience life repeatedly, becomes a kind of imprint or groove which stays with us.
In many spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism and Jainism, this process is referred to as karmic impressions. Karma may be described as the law of cause and effect with which every individual creates his or her own destiny through thoughts, words, and deeds. It is so easy to get caught up in the distractions and gossip of others. If we do not take care to choose our filter, the vices of negativity, hatred, and darkness leak into our being, and spread to others too.
We need to examine our own spiritual code of ethics and morals. We need to ask ourselves the pertinent questions: Are we looking with divine vision, gifted by our spiritual guides? Are we limited by our own ego, narrow mindedness, and selfish needs? Are we adding value to the lives of others, or just judging them? Or, are we diverting ourselves and others further away from the enlightened path?
During Mata Sudiksha ji’s recent visit in the UK, Ramit Chandna ji shared an example of a humble saint, who was visited by Mata ji at his deprived, shack-like home in India. He prepared a simple meal, amongst which were some lentils, which he fed Mata ji with his own hands. On leaving his house, Mata ji said to Ramit ji, “these were the tastiest lentils I have ever had!”.
I wonder what filter Mata ji had applied in this instance? How did something so basic become so special to her? Perhaps we would have hesitated to enter this tiny shack, let alone sit and eat there. Whilst we learn a great deal about Mata ji’s equitable vision in this story, we can also take a lesson from the humble devotee. In truth, we may spend hours on end preparing food or some other act of service, and we may present it in the most lavish or sophisticated of ways. Yet what matters most, is where our intentions lie.
If there is a condition, outcome or expectation attached in serving another, we have lost the spirit of seva. The very purpose of the act has been forgotten. Our serving, but also our grateful acceptance of service from others, should always be whole-hearted, with not an ounce of ego.
Throughout the pandemic, a lot of emphasis was placed on our well-being and mental health. A report conducted in November 2021 by the UK charity, MIND, stated that over a third of Britons don’t have the support or tools to deal with the ups and downs of life. Furthermore, ten million people will need support for their mental health as a direct result of the pandemic (Centre for Mental Health).
These statistics highlight the need to nurture a state of mind which is equipped to deal with the challenges of life. The path of spirituality allows us to acquire such life-skills to both survive and thrive under all circumstances. The oft quoted example of the lotus flower is relevant here. As the bud pushes up through murky waters, the petals of the flower are never touched or affected by the muddy waters beneath. In so doing the centre of the lotus remains uncontaminated throughout its life journey. We too can elevate our perspective, to rise above the prejudices, ignorance and hatred that bedevils our world today.
The saintly journey is towards perfection. It is symbolic of the purity of the human soul and how nothing we experience should ever taint us. Saintly souls accept and embrace life as it unfolds – they look, see, and hear with divine intuition. This leads to living in equilibrium, as torchbearers and lighthouses who illuminate the path for others to follow.
– Baljit Kamal, Coventry, UK
