The Sky Is Falling

Is this the beginning of the end of the world? Is the economy going to crash globally leaving us without money, jobs or retirement funds? The fear that is permeating throughout the world around these topics is rampant. It seems that fear is everywhere you go, on everyone’s mind. Well, there is our first hint. We are talking about the mind. The mind is designed to grab on to anything and everything to keep us attached to life in this plane. And yes, the current world condition is a very captivating, all-consuming distraction for the mind. In fact, embracing fear may be at its all-time high.

There is a children’s fable entitled, “Chicken Little”. There are many versions of this story, but the basic premise is that a chicken believes the sky is falling down because an acorn falls on her head. The chicken jumps to a conclusion and whips the populace into mass hysteria by screaming, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling.” The chicken’s fearful thoughts permeate the entire community, much like the fear in today’s world. We could easily describe today’s populace as heading into mass hysteria believing that the sky is indeed falling.

But, as lucky followers of this path, we are not really part of this world, are we? We need not be fearful. We are spiritual beings temporarily living in this world. Whatever is happening in the world is divinely unfolding. It has purpose, perfect design and optimum outcome. If we really do believe there is a divine plan then why would we have any angst about worldly affairs? We need only concern ourselves with our spiritual progress.

Maulana Rum, as quoted in Philosophy of the Masters, Vol. V, says:

O brave friend! Catch hold of the Master’s garments,
For he is above all ups and downs.
He will be with you both here and hereafter,
Whether you are in this world of mind and matter, or beyond.

God is providing every single thing that we need. Perhaps not what we want but exactly what we need. How fortunate we are not to have to be burdened with the weight of the world crises, falling economies, wars, terrorists and environmental resource depletions. For whatever will be, will be.

But when we forget this and allow the fear to creep in, it is our best friend, our Guru who is there to support and console us. For our focus to turn to God and become one with him, our Guru – our teacher, our friend, our guide – tells us in very simple terms what to do. Meditate. That’s it. That’s all. The world is turning upside down; our lifestyles may be at risk. But whatever worldly drama our karma is directing us to experience, our real job, our real purpose is to meditate. Even if we let go of worrying about the world, the mind however, as is its nature, even continues to worry about our spiritual status.

But the Master tells us not to worry. Worry activates the mind. Not to worry about results of meditation but just put in the effort to meditate.

Struggling with the thoughts of the mind and repeating simran during our meditation does take enormous effort. Stilling the mind of thoughts requires constant, consistent effort. We must be on alert during our meditation to catch our mind, for before we know it, the mind is off and running with many errant thoughts. We bring it back to simran over and over and over again. Does this practice get boring? Perhaps, but it is the effort in the practice that is being acknowledged. We can allow ourselves one worry; whether or not we are putting in enough effort. That can be our primary worry, not if the world is falling apart or if the sky is falling.

The Master knows the effort it takes. Maharaj Charan Singh in Die to Live says:

I don’t think there is anything more difficult than meditation. Meditation is the most difficult. It looks simple, and yet it is so difficult to attend to it. It’s easy to understand Sant Mat because the whole philosophy is very simple, but when we put it into practice, many obstacles come in the way. To live Sant Mat, to live the teachings, means a constant struggle with the mind.

He has brought us here to his feet at this point in time. He is the one giving us the grace to put forth the effort. So, is the sky falling? Do we care if it is? Do we have any worries left about the world? Let us open our hearts with gratitude so that we don’t have to worry. Through his grace we sit at his feet even with all our imperfections.

Maharaj Sawan Singh explains in Philosophy of the Masters, Vol.V:

We should sit at the feet of a person who knows our heart, who can understand our difficulties and sufferings, who can share our sadness and who can remove it. We should sit in the shade of a tree bearing fresh flowers and fruit, which will refresh our mind and heart, and from which we will get the fruit of spiritual life to eat.

Whether we sit at his feet, in the beautiful cocoon of love called Dera, or sit under trees bearing fresh flowers and eating fruit, or are in the midst of the chaos and stress of the world, he is always with us. For us, it is not that the sky is falling. What is falling away is anything that comes between us and pure love.