Dear Jeyamohan
Isn’t spirituality a natural state of being? One sees a flower, and his heart blossoms. It is spirituality. Human beings can naturally attain such a sublime state. That is what J. Krishnamurthy refers to as spirituality. Is it necessary to have systematic training and practice? Doesn’t practice make that spontaneous experience artificial? Isn’t it imposing another’s attitude on us?
Krishna Prem
Dear Prem,
Drinking tea is a spontaneous act; no human needs training to taste a thing, right? But the Japanese tea party is an elaborate affair. One that requires proper training.
Without that practice, try drinking Japanese tea. It is just hot water. A few hours of practice in a single day can enhance your experience and make that tea delicious. It is my own experience.
Yes, spirituality is spontaneous. But why aren’t all people naturally spiritual? Because spirituality faces significant obstacles. Spiritual training does not involve imparting the knowledge of one’s inner journey to others. One has to discover it for himself. However, the challenges he faces in that journey are somewhat common. Those who have gone before you can teach you how to overcome those obstacles. That’s why trainings are needed.
Even in traditional guru-disciple relationships, the guru does not teach the ‘truth’. He will tell you that the truth is ‘your own secret flower’. It is a personal journey—of course, on the edge of a razor.
However, on that path, only a guru’s guidance can help. Without guru, we’ll take our own detours, like you do.
Jayamohan
