11. Spirituality? The yoga of the mind

 

For years I perceived all that is spiritual and religious as a scam consisting in: 1. Believing false ideas and 2. Masses politically and economically manipulated by organisations

 

 

1. Let’s consider the “false ideas” aspect of spirituality

As I opened myself to the Buddhist concepts and tools, I felt I was getting closer to the deep nature of my mind. I felt I was initiated to the basics of the human mind. Fundamental hygiene, as evident as brushing your teeth or wearing a helmet on a motorcycle. Henceforward, I see Buddhism as a vision and a science of life. An efficient science.

 

For example:

• If I try to turn away from death, without really considering it, without realising that each day may be the last one, it is like burying one’s head in the sand. It is a false calculation, because:

  • I will probably fill my life with mostly unimportant things, realising it when death comes

  • When death comes, for me or someone else, I’ll probably be afraid, disabled, thus I’ll probably suffer more or I won’t be able to help 

 

Since happiness is a state of mind, no exterior factor can guarantee happiness. An external factor will never be my mind.

• The more I control my mind, the more I can guarantee happiness, whatever the external factors

• On the opposite, if I let my mind be permanently absorbed by what attracts or what repulses it I’m like a cat chasing its own tail, considering it as an external thing.

 

I awkwardly report these teachings but I think you’ll get the type of reasoning. These teachings don’t consist of beliefs, but rather in an observation.  These teachings are efficient, they sooth the mind, body and life as obviously as meditation, yoga and healthy food are good for the body and mind. If THIS is to be a believer, if this is not to be an atheist, an agnostic anymore, then I’m a believer. However the tag, whatever you call it. What counts is happiness, peace. What counts is to move forward!

 

From this point of view, spirituality is the best “product” I have ever consumed. Free, instantly beneficial (well being, happiness, lightness…), legal, easy to carry (in the mind). A product whose benefits amplify as you share them. Not to mention enlightenment, unlikely to happen but a better perspective than an overdose or a burnout.

 

 

2. Lets consider now the “masses being politically and economically manipulated’ aspect of spirituality

It is not because some spiritual or religious organisations may be linked to economical power struggles and political injustices that spirituality in itself is a bad thing. Similarly, it is not because, in France for example, I don’t care about the political conflict between the Left wing and the Right wing, or because, around the world, politics are involved in corruption affaires, that politic, from the fundamental philosophical point of view, is uninteresting.

 

Moreover, it is obvious that the faulty personal lifestyle which brought me to spirituality is a consumerist illusion. An occidental illusion far more resulting from political and economical organisations than spiritual organisations.

 

In the history of humanity, technology and science evolutions, connected to politic and economic evolutions, saved many people from religious manipulations. But, at the present time, in my daily life, If there is a manipulation I worry about, it is more coming from political and economical players than spiritual ones. And I underline the IF, because I don’t want to say that any organisation is accountable for my lifestyle.

 

 

 

12. From the microscope to the wide angle

 

After only a few days of contact with the tradition, I progressed more than in 10 years of contact with sociology and psychology. How? By switching from the microscope to the wide angle. By ceasing to centre my personal research on what is my specificity: my history, my family, my environment, etc. By ceasing all this to centre this research on my common points with other human beings. On belonging to Humanity, to the Universe. What an enormous relief to switch from a focalisation on the Self to a focalisation on others. What a liberation, to switch from the infinitely small to the infinitely large.

 

With this change from the microscope to the wide angle, the brain and the mind suddenly find themselves relieved of the impossible mission of mastering everything, of understanding everything. I’m not in my world. I belong to the universe. I’m not humanity, I belong to it. I’m a temporary aggregation of atoms, on a rock flying into space. From this point of view, getting a better smartphone or earning more money become less vital.

 

With a brain relieved from this impossible mission, energy can flow better and explore what is happening in the heart and the gut. I always felt in my heart and my gut, but mostly fear or desire. What is new is to try to centre my wisdom in my heart and my gut. To try to give my heart and gut a role of major power, instead of confining these organs to the roles of scarecrow, muse or joker.

 

 

 

13. More heart

 

It is difficult to summarise all this, and it is an on-going process. But in terms of what I want to do in life, it confirms my intuition that has been discreetly poking me for years. I’m not much interested anymore in helping Cadbury to improve its chocolate bar packaging. Nor helping a phone operator to define its optic fibre market conquest strategy. Even helping a ministry to implement its new harm reduction strategy.

 

What attracts me more, it is a project in which I put my qualities to the service of things and causes in which I believe, notably because they are beneficial to others. For example, helping people to make life transitions equivalent to the one I’m experiencing. Or, as with Manjushri Portraits, to do an artistic, sociological, community and spiritual project. A project good for others, thus to me, a project resonating in the heart and the gut.

 

 

 

14. The quest for peace (an unoriginal story)

 

My story isn’t an original one. And that’s the good news! I often hear similar stories here at Manjushri. People who have encountered problems, then, improved since they began to change some components of their life. Everyone is on his own quest for peace. These lives confirm changes are possible.

 

I had two years of deconstruction, of adventures. Two deliciously frightening years. No regrets. On the contrary. I deconstruct to rebuild in a better way. A new balance has to be invented. At peace with the past. I’m grateful for what I have benefited from in the past. And for this period that has begun.

I’m confident about my future.

The strength of habits is enormous.

One shall not forget that anything is possible, always believe it, act it.

My goal isn’t an austere life, on the contrary. My goal is a much happier life, and a less risky one. Peace must be a very intense state.

 

Whatever I become, however innovative it is, there will be a before and an after this encounter. Not only because I’m happier than two years ago. Also because this period of change, in progress, is already one the most important ones of my life.

 

Kadampa tradition didn’t make it all happen. I was ready for change, looking for it for years. Other organisations, other contexts, other people may have had a similar beneficial effect. But Kadampa did play a key role for me. The teachings, the community, the possibility to stay on site, the open minded spirit, all of these have been very efficient. So : bravo, respect and thank you.

 

 

 

15. Manjushri Portraits, an “inter-face(s)”

 

Some of the very kind people who took the time to read this just before the publication of this project ask me: “After all, why are you doing this personal project? Why this project seems so essential to you, so necessary, while most of the temporary visitors use their free time to read books, rest or to communicate with their relatives?”

In April 2013, in Manjushri, I received so much form the people throughout discussions that I told myself the people had to be put forward, valorised, and that the individual portrait was a good way to acknowledge the vast universe in each and every individual.

 

Two years and a half later, Manjushri Portrait is a way to:

• Salute, to cherish and to honour the community members

• Dedicate time to a project of Heart and Art

• Encourage Dharma’s and Tradition’s discovery for new comers. Because I’m convinced a lot of people could benefit from it, as I did

• Do an update on my own course, and to encourage myself to continue on this path of change

• Signify my interest through a nice “inter-face(s)” of portraits. A nice interface to connect the community members with themselves, and to connect them to the world.

 

A very good ad for Kadampa. A testimony from the heart. Well deserved.

 

 

 

16. Room for the individual

 

Also, from a pretty free and sceptical person like me, a person who likes to make a difference, this project became a test of the tradition. I asked myself : in a large organisation like Kadampa is, is there room for an individual expression? Either my expression, through this project, or the one of the practitioners, through the portraits.

 

I asked myself if the benefit of Dharma has to be paid with the sacrifice of one individuality

 

To my eyes, what I received from the tradition could have been questioned if the Manjushri Portraits was rejected. Possibly, unconsciously, I was looking for a “good reason” to return to my usual distractions. So far, the test is successful. More over, I find it admirable that such a large organisation managed to let me achieve an initiative this personal, touching its souls and image. I find it admirable that most of the individuals had the will to personally be part of the project, by being portrayed.

 

I see this as a mark of integrity. A prove of wisdom.

 

It wouldn’t have been possible to go through this project if my intention wasn’t deeply a good one. Because from the youngest to the oldest, every member of this community retains a powerful wisdom. Every member knows how to read beyond the words, beyond engaging faces. Thus, this collective approval of Manjushri Portraits is of great value. Thank you.

 

 

 

17. Looking for change?

 

With this text and this photographic project, I also want to say to those who are like I was two and a half years ago that changes are possible. And to share my current mantra:

 

• Give a chance to spirituality, which can be summarised as giving a serene place to death in ones life.

• Meditate and do yoga. By the way it really should be taught in schools.

• Feel more with your heart and your guts than with your brain

• Bear in mind more your commonalities than your differences with other people

• Try to have just a single nice day, taking care of yourself and of others. Both through your behaviour and your thoughts.

• If you are looking for something new in your life, consider a retreat rather than a holiday.

• No money? Consider a working visit. And don’t get discouraged if you sleep in a dormitory and if you’re asked to participate to the cleaning. You could discover a treasure…

 

 

To be continued!

Much love

 

Étienne