Another Dismal Wet Summers Day

Another Dismal Wet Summers Day?

It’s raining again!

I feel no desire to have it any other way, for with the rain come feelings of contentment and acceptance. I observe and contemplate each droplet as it falls from the skies above, each one complete in itself until it merges with the earth beneath where it appears to cease existence. Some droplets fall to form puddles of water, some splash into my garden pond… as my consciousness expands I experience the rain falling into lakes, rivers and oceans throughout the world. Oh! Such insights this wondrous day has given to me! My heart expands with pure joy and inner knowing as I watch the cycles of life unfold before my very eyes….

I merge with a single drop of rain as it races towards the earth and experience sheer terror in the moments before I merge with the expanse of water beneath. I know I shall cease to exist in my present form and even though I know it may mean my salvation, it is merging with the unknown, and I am so afraid. In merging with the puddle I feel the companionship of other droplets as they too fall into the water. I feel the attraction and joy of finding another droplet that is attracted to me, the ecstasy of uniting with that droplet in sexual bliss. I loose my identity to that of my partner and for a brief moment in time we are as one; nothing else exists or matters save for the love we have for one another. Yet this love is but an illusion and all too soon it fizzles out, just as the water in the puddle evaporates in the warmth of the golden sun. Before too long the puddle is dry…the droplets are no more.

Once again the droplet forms the rain cloud and begins its return journey to earth with no recall of its former life in the puddle. This is the endless cycle of rebirth after rebirth and endless suffering, for unless the old habits and patterns of behaviour are purified the droplet will continue to fall into the puddle, to repeat the cycle again and again and again. Some drops are more fortunate and begin to merge with the garden pond. They learn to transform their impurities and may even be fortunate to experience the unconditional love of a spiritual friend. Yet even this comes from the realm of illusion, for they still have not transcended their habits and patterns. They still create and recreate the same errors, harming others and believing it to be ok as this time they are learning from their experiences. If others are hurt in the process then it is their issue, their lesson to learn and “it is meant to be”. Even a spiritual friendship can be based upon need and illusion!

The droplet that merges with the lake has begun to experience an expansion of consciousness, but even as the lake is bounded by the surrounding land such is the consciousness of this droplet limited. There may be moments of insight, clarity and connectedness yet it has still not experienced the “Truth”. This may be the biggest illusion yet experienced as it so closely resembles that of merging with the great ocean of life. Even the deepest lake can dry up in times of prolonged drought and it may take many, many lifetimes to realise the illusion behind this existence.

Those drops that merge with the river are at last reaping the fruits of their many, many lifetimes of searching and their devotion to Truth. They have heard and practice the Dharma whilst connecting with true spiritual friends and teachers who encourage growth through awareness, compassion and loving kindness. They inspire their students to seek within to connect with the inner river of life that leads to the great ocean of transcendence, purity and unity. Once the droplet has merged with this river it is filled with such compassion at the suffering of all living beings that it can follow no other course than to devote its entire existence to the service of others. There is no turning back, it has to let go and allow the current to lead. Eventually it merges with the ocean where it unifies with “truth” and transcends deluded selfhood.

And what of the droplets who are fortunate to have merged with the ocean?

This is the realm of the heart, the realm of infinite great compassion, the realm of the Bodhisattvas. Those who in their boundless compassion for all living beings forsake their own right to Buddha hood, and resolve instead to return lifetime after lifetime, to dispel the sufferings of the world. These beings may also be found in many different guises within all the stages of our development; we have only to open our hearts and allow them to assist us in transforming our lives.

And is this the journey’s end?

Alas! No….Only at the point where the great ocean merges with the boundless sky can true transcendence be found. The infinite compassion of the heart blends with the unshakable wisdom of the awakened mind and gives birth to all pervading awareness that is everything and is nothing. This is the realm of the Holy Buddha, Christ and all Ascended Masters. It is the realm that has no name for it cannot be named it can only be experienced……

Addendum:

These are the insights of a single water droplet: I will leave it to the reader to determine whether I speak from the realm of the puddle, the pond, the lake, the river or the ocean!