Everything Is Quotidian For an Evolved Soul

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

15 December 2022

“Everything is mundane for a mystic."

-An Iranian Sufi maxim

“To an evolved soul, even gold is a mere piece of rock."

-A Sanskrit Adage

Shukra Hai Hayaat Ab Bhi Hai Zahoor Mein

Baaqi Baaton Se Nahin Koi Sarokaar Mujhe

-Zahid Balochi

(It's enough that life is still in existence / the rest is of no use to me)

The great Buddhist saint and one of the greatest minds in the recorded history of mankind, Nagarjuna moved around naked except for a loin-cloth and, incongruously, a golden begging-bowl gifted to him by the king, who was his disciple.

One night he was about to lie down to sleep among the ruins of an ancient monastery, when he noticed a thief lurking behind one of the columns. “Here, take this," said Nagarjuna, holding out the begging-bowl. “That way you won't disturb me once I've fallen asleep."

The thief eagerly grabbed the bowl and made off-only to return next morning with the bowl and a request. He said, “When you gave away this bowl so freely last night, you made me feel very poor. Teach me how to acquire the riches that make this kind of light-hearted detachment possible."

No one can take from you

What you never took to yourself.

“Jo Tera Tha Hi Nahin Uske Jaane Par Kaisa Shok

Yahan Kisi Se Judaav Na Rakh, Ye Hai Martyalok”

Dr Ramdhari Singh ' Dinkar ' (Krishna consoling Arjuna)

(Why should you feel sad and disconsolate when it didn't belong to you in the first place? / Don't be attached to anyone and anything in this evanescent world)

PS. And that thief, Aryadeva, became Nagarjuna's student and went on to become one of the greatest exponents and interpreters of Nagarjuna's Treatise on the Middle Way. Arvadeva wrote an exceptionally lucid and erudite commentary, Four Hundred Stanzas of Middle Way that explains the paths associated with conventional truths. This also proves that anyone can change at any point of time. “No one is a born scoundrel," to quote the German genius Arthur Schopenhauer. 

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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.

 

URL:     https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/quotidian-evolved-soul/d/128632 

   

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