Every morning we perform the ritual of prepping our bodies to engage in the public arena. On autopilot, we breeze through the ritual bathing, combing, brushing and dressing. As we proceed, we focus intently on each segment of hair, teeth, skin and clothing, and then with a quick glance we view the whole. One thing we don’t do during this ritual is to look at our true self with a good solid look into the eyes, the gateway to the soul. We make eye contact with other people, but we don’t make eye contact with ourselves. Somehow it is uncomfortable looking into one’s own eyes for any length of time.
Yet, if we do dare to stare, we fear the reflection of a fractured self, as if viewing our self with a broken mirror. The broken mirror distorts our reflection, making us appear somewhat unsettling, as we see ourselves strangely looking back. The feeling is unsettling because, with an honest analysis, we know our own faults and problems. Admitting to all of our shortcomings presents to us a multiple personality person. Just who are we? It seems quite perplexing to determine our true identity.
Wouldn’t it be grand to look our self in the eye and know exactly who and what we are? Yet instead we see a fractured self, but in reality we are whole and one with all. The key to this viewpoint of “Oneness” is revealed by the Satguru with the message of “Know One, Believe in One and Become One”. Once we have taken the fundamental step of God-realization, then we move on to have faith in God by building a relationship. Becoming very close to God finalizes the effort, as we become one with the One.
There is a final step that Satguru has given us – Self Realization through God Realization. This follow-on step is the way we finally meet our self, just like looking into the mirror and seeing one image. One image that you know is you. The process of knowing God allows us to know the self. We are not the body, but we are truly the soul housed in the body. We must relate to God with the soul and realizing the soul is all that matters, because that is our true identity.
Daring to stare at one’s self challenges us to accept our faults, to own up to them and to resolve them. The ability to accept and resolve comes with the knowledge of God and of the self. The empowerment is overwhelming once God is revealed and a serious acceptance and following occurs. Without the true connection to God, our life takes the course of the billions walking in darkness – i.e. the blind leading the blind.
Connecting to God takes a keen awareness of God’s presence all around us. Awareness is how we focus on anything important to us. That is how we are able to achieve success in our family, education and professional work. The same principle applies when relating to God. For without awareness and focus, the connection lies dormant. That is why we must remember God at all times and stay connected, so that we can look our self squarely in the eyes and know our true self – the soul.
– Dan Slebodnik Washington D.C.
