A man goes to see a psychiatrist and says, "Doctor, I've got a split personality and it's interfering with my life. It's wrecking my job so I can't get along withIt's ruining my family life. IIt's destroying my social life"
"Hold it," the doctor shouted. "Now one at a time please."
We should be babbling about the wonderful life of Christ we are heir to. In Spirituality for Dummies Sharon Janis asks us: once you accept that you and the world arise from a divine source, and you decide to use your spiritual powers only for good, what's next?
"Dessert!" she says. "The crown jewel of spirituality!" The big cherry on top! Enlightenment. Of enlightenment, Janis shares this tale:
One day the master announced that a young monk had reached an advanced state of enlightenment. The news caused some stir. Some of the monks went to see the young monk. "We heard you are enlightened. Is that true?" they asked.
"It is," he replied.
"And how do you feel?"
"As miserable as ever," said the monk.
After enlightenment, you're still you! Janis explains. If a sullen person becomes enlightened, he wouldn't be smiling and laughing all the time. With enlightenment you may continue playing your role, but with the awareness that you're the one who's playing your role!
Much has been written about the marvellous transition after enlightenment. Papa Ramdas said:
People ask 'What do you get by realizing God?' You get eternal peace and bliss. You are in a state of bliss in all conditions and circumstances because it comes from the source of your being. The fountain of joy will open in you and you will be flooded with it. In that state of happiness you work in the world, and that will be for the good of all.
Sharon Janis points out that enlightenment includes the following:
Being enlightened is like someone in a dream who starts saying to other people, "I really do believe that this is all a dream."
With enlightenment, you're not afraid of all the turmoil going on in the world, nor are you too obsessed with it.
When you're enlightened, you may notice yourself becoming a conduit of grace your company may inspire people around youto a better place of awareness.
You are fully present in your life and also fully ready to leave this world when the time comes. You enjoy life while remaining detached from it. You don't get trapped by things. You live with a sense of allowing, acceptance, and inner freedom.
When we realize God's love for us, we can expect that great things will happen, foremost of which is that final meeting face to face.
When we stop to reflect long enough we realize that this is a wonderful life. The joy should overwhelm us.
Charlie Chaplin once said, "In the end, everything is a gag." And Sharon Janis concludes: "Life is funny. God is funny. You're funny. The events of this world are funny. Joy is funny, love is funny, and as some have discovered after intense troubles, even suffering can be funny when you have the benefit of hindsight. As comedienne Carol Burnett has said, 'Comedy is tragedy plus time.'"
