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Community Life
I used to think it would be great to live in a
community and I wondered why my own teacher would reject requests from
people to set up a community for those following his teaching. After all,
surely he would like to live amongst like-minded people who, whilst probably
not being Enlightened like himself, would at least be progressing
consciously along the path and be more sensitive than most? Wouldn’t it be
nice to live amongst a group of people who were devoted to putting love and
consciousness first above all else?
Sally & I have lived on a community estate for a
few years now. It’s not for any religion or teaching, but is a private
estate with covenants, rules and restrictions, and the entire 15 acre estate
with the 141 properties was designed by a famous architect in such a way as
to promote community living. There is a monthly service charge which must be
paid to maintain the estate and legal action is taken against residents who
fall behind on the payments, and against those who breach the extensive
covenants.
For the last 3 years we have been on the
committee of residents which manages the estate, and we created the estate
website and run the newsletter. We attend monthly meetings of the committee
and have been involved in projects, planning improvements to the estate. We
feel we have given the community bit a go and are coming to the end now. We
are getting ready to move away.
The people on the estate are generally very nice
and we get on well. Sally and I are popular as have made a positive
difference to the estate, and when we tried to resign from the committee
last year we met strong opposition, with the comment made that it would be
like ripping the heart out of the organisation. Thus we agreed to stick it
out another year. However, we are starting to feel a little trapped, shut
in, and need our space.
We want a view besides our own back garden or
the side of another’s house. We want our own private car parking space. But
we also want to feel we are not near other people and that we can get away;
we really no longer want to be part of a community, of any sort.
With regards to a community specifically
together for a spiritual purpose, someone may suggest that things could be
different from the above. But my own view is that people would be more
inclined to lean against each other; to use others as an emotional crutch
which can save them from having to actually face and address issues in their
life.
Due to the above, it could also reduce the
amount that a person takes responsibility for their own life, thus actually
inhibiting their personal development, not enhancing it as is often claimed.
It could also be that the group is set up around
an individual, as if often the case with spiritual or religious groups. This
means that either, one person has the power over all the others, or another
individual or select few take charge and run the group in another’s name.
Either way, it serves to disempower the other members of the groups who are
‘following’. Then again, the same could be said of all communities, our own
included, which is why one either signs up to the rules, or leaves. In fact,
as we know, society in general has set rules, traditions and expected
behaviour, by which one must comply in order to avoid possible consequences;
thus one always has imposed restrictions, and perhaps it comes down to
finding an area which most suits you, or withdrawing as far as one is
willing and able, and living pretty much alone on one’s own terms.
But what about, if you are going to live near
others, living near those who share the same aims, such as living an
Enlightened life? Well, my own experience, both when interacting with my
teacher as well as with those whom I have taught, is that the student tends
to want to challenge the teacher, at some point; almost in a sort of
defiance: ‘I don’t need you anymore. I know what you know! I can be the
teacher too!’ Thus, even the most devoted and courteous student can turn at
any point, demanding from the teacher that they be recognised as being
Enlightened and as being equal. To the truly Enlightened Master, equality
does not come in to it, but for the student, they see Enlightenment as being
the Holy Grail and they want it. So, it’s very much like the animal kingdom,
where the young males reach a point at which they challenge the alpha male,
usually resulting in them leaving the safety of the herd and going alone.
And in The Truth, this is perhaps how it should
be, since every woman is the embodiment of Love and every man is the
embodiment of The Master. The student can feel the drive to become The One
and sees the teacher, as the hurdle over which they must pass. Of course,
this is not the truth. There is no competition from The Master. They have
nothing to prove. But it is still a little frustrating when a student who
has been doing well suddenly turns and demands teacher status, when they are
still learning; and invariably get indignant when it is not forthcoming.
This can happen both within a community and outside, but personally I would
prefer not to put myself in that position in my home life.
Considering all the above, I prefer to withdraw
as much as we are able, while still keeping our jobs as it suits us to do so
for now. It is just important to us at this time to have somewhere to go,
after work, which is our home, and feels like a sanctuary away from people
and the hustle and bustle of daily life. We are still happy to teach when we
do, writing articles and giving the occasional talk, but I teach people to
stand on their own two feet; to not rely on others to carry them or make
their decisions for them (not me, or anybody else); and ideally we want less
to have to consider others or live with the inconsiderations of others,
within a community. This is your life (as it is mine). I am neither a leader
nor a follower. I am The Master (of my own life) and I live that truth. I
don’t lean on anyone else, and I don’t allow people to lean on me. I am very
willing to teach people to stand up straight and face what life throws their
way, and how to learn and play by the rules that govern what happens here,
but living in a community, whether running it (in whatever sense) or living
in a community run by others, is not for us. Is it for you?
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