A Guide to Awareness and Tranquility
by William Samuel pp. 264 - 265
PEOPLE, CHURCHES AND PHILOSOPHY
Teachers, books, leaders, philosophies, practitioners, religions,
theories, bibles and holy books of the world may be likened to
leaves on a tree. When the wind blows, the leaves make sounds-some
loud, some soft, some high, some low. The pine needle that makes a
strong sound, like a tuning fork, sets those of the same note into
sympathetic vibration. This is as it should be, but surely it must
be understood: the Value isn't in the leaf, the pine needle, or the
sound they make. The importance isn't in how many kindred images
vibrate in sympathy, in how many agree or disagree. The task is not
to find the sweetest sound or the softest sound; neither to find the
truest sound, the "authorized" sound, nor the "most absolute" sound.
The task-if it is a task at all-is to recognize one's own identity
to be-TO BE-all there is to the tree, the leaves, the sounds and
even to the gentle wind that moves them!
The value isn't in the religion, the holy book, the leader, the
authorized literature, teacher, philosophy or system, not in the
images within Awareness or in their beliefs as countless as the
needles on the pine. No! The Value Supernal is "in" That which is
being the Awareness I am (and you are. Reader)-perceiving the
religions, holy books, leaders, teachers, philosophies and systems
within Itself.
"Samuel"-mere image of awareness-is nothing of himself. Samuel-image
is but a leaf on the tree. The eternal Isness being "Samuel" (plus
all other images) is being the entire tree, every leaf and every
zephyr that animates them. It is downright silly to admire or
disparage one of the leaves-a single image of the Self-as being the
only authorized leader, the straightest line, the least or the most
absolute statement, system or approach. This is judgmental
foolishness, unnecessary twaddle, the tinkling of cymbals, the
whisper of new leaves whose sounds mellow as they grow in the Light.
We enjoy the sounds of many leaves. We do not close the door or turn
a deaf ear toward others. We will continue to read books, give and
listen to lectures and discuss ideas as long as it comes to us to do
these things. But we know the value isn't there. The importance
isn't the book, lecture or speaker-even those authorized by the
board of directors or the high priests at the temple. We maintain an
unshakable equanimity in the knowledge that Eternal Allness being
the Identity-I-am is the Value. We joy in the simplicity of
Allness's all!
We remain wary not to be drawn into an attack on what others say, or
a defense of what we say. The Truth stands as its own monument with
beauty, simplicity, tenderness and an unjudging love that makes the
Heart sing and does astounding things within our experience!
"I listen to the Holy Councilor only, who teaches me directly-here,
right here in my Heart." |
