I just returned from a nearly 3 weeks stay at Sai Baba’s ashram in India. Being back in Zurich first appeared to be a culture shock – but only at first sight. The people looking so stressed, seeing their worries on their faces. Driven by the monkey mind.
But also in India I had to be very aware sometimes to feel this, not loosing myself in the illusion of separateness:
For example when sitting in His temple, a big crowd around me, especially at the festival, which was just going on, and being sometimes irritated about the chaos around me, people shouting, fighting for the “best” places.
But in the middle of the noise I heard the voice of a little bird, singing his song just above me. So sweet, a very soft tone. A soft tone, which I then discovered spread through the whole temple. The tone was like a golden band of Love connecting everyone and everything in there. Like the underlying current which gives life to all.
Now, if I see people running around in Zurich I know and feel, the same Love is the basic tone here as well. I just have to open my senses, be open to it and listen. Listen with my whole heart and at once it becomes apparent.
It doesn’t matter where I sit, in a busy temple, in a busy street in Europe, in a silent wood. If I open my heart I feel the current of inner peace flowing in myself. Which connects me to Him, myself and others. A gentle touch of peace, the easiness and freedom of a blue butterfly who is swirling happily around, a flower blossoming, a little bird chanting in the temple, compassion for myself and others, trusting, loving what is, knowing that everyone is finding his way, including me.
Om Sai Ram.