Unless perhaps we’re talking about the red pill from The Matrix!
Our culture is unfortunately stuck on the quick fix, the one-stop solution to all of your problems.
There is no such thing.
When there are REAL problems, going deep — such as the problems of understanding your soul — then these have no simple solution. (Mostly because it’s not a problem! As they say, you are not a problem to be solved, you’re a mystery to be experienced…. but that harps too close to the spiritual pablum that I’ve railed about previously so I won’t make it the center of this post!)
While it’s true that Enlightenment can manifest in a flash — it always manifests that way — it’s probably not very useful to hang onto that idea as a salvation.
You can decide to work towards Enlightenment, that you want to dedicate your life to self-discovery, that you are earnestly working towards the Truth, but beyond that there’s not much you can do to make it happen any faster than it’s going to.
These things are not up to us.
And there’s definitely not a quick fix for the problem of YOU.
You are already perfect, because you are Infinite God. You are the Truth. You just may not be perceiving that clearly in this moment.
The core of you is the absolute beauty of the Love that you seek. It’s right under the surface of your mind. It’s hidden there, waiting for you to discover it.
It’s definitely not “out there” in the form of a pill or a technique or a mantra or a solution.
What meditation does, and all the other good practices like chanting and service and mindfulness and focused concentration, what these things do is clear out your attention and raise your energy level so that you may more accurately see.
They don’t change who you are.
Who you are is already there, in all its already-perfected glory and radiance.
Right there. Within you. Right now.
Meditation can be absolutely fundamentally invaluable in this chaotic mixed-up world that we live in, with the distractions and lures and addictions that the world dangles. The world sends you in so many directions. (Pro Tip: That’s where the agony comes from! If anything, it’s The World that needs to be fixed — not you! If only there were a pill for that…!)
What you can do is DECIDE.
That’s the most powerful pill of them all.
You can DECIDE that you are interested in Truth. You can DECIDE that what you want is freedom. You can DECIDE that you are willing to go through the hellworlds of your mind if that’s what it takes, because you have faith, or you believe enough in what the exalted saints and the masters have told you, that you are willing to take action.
The only pill to fix you is that action: The action of belief.
The action of knowing that there’s more out there than just this.
Or more accurately: There’s more IN there. 🙂
Taking a pill to feel better is no problem. If there are physical ailments that the body is suffering, then definitely seek out help. God created Western medicine and doctors just as much as She created holistic healing! It’s wise to avail yourself of what is on offer. Don’t rule out anything if you’re in pain. It’s very difficult to meditate when the body is complaining loudly about how it’s in pain (though to be fair, it’s not at all impossible to meditate even when you’re in pain, and the pain itself can be used as a form of meditation — but that’s a post for another day!).
But there is no pill for Enlightenment, and definitely the current social acceptance of marijuana does not mean it’s the solution either.
What’s required for Enlightenment is your willingness to believe that it’s possible. You also need to be willing to see beyond illusion (that’s where many people get hung up!). You need to be brave enough to keep going, even when it seems like there’s trouble. You need to be honest, and persevere, and ruthless in your willingness to literally comprehend Truth.
Again, these are all clearly topics that deserve more discussion!
If you’re in pain today, of the physical or psychological or social kind, then certainly seek out the help that you need.
If your pain is of a spiritual nature*… then don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Rededicate yourself to your meditation practice, and you will discover the path out of the woods.
And because I cannot miss an opportunity to watch Morpheus:
*Which probably all of the above types of pain really are, too!
Leave a Reply