Birthday Celebration Narratives -- Robert Adams ... Adams Humanitarian.pdfreality. To truly...
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All Rights Reserved Robert Adams 1 Birthday Celebration Narratives -- Robert Adams Humanitarian to All The Alleviation of the Suffering of Others Personal Experiences in Comfort and Joy, in Robert Adams Gentle Comforting Presence. “If the end result of illumination is love, compassion and humility, what if we were to do that now?” We are called to create a life bright and shining, dependent not on what happens to us, but what we do with what happens to us; transcending and transforming with the eternal, unchanging compassion of God. Anyone who reached out, who asked for help, who emanated the slightest need for nurturing, cherishing, deep investment of our time and hearts, never left without it. There is no other option. Benevolence is daily life. Whether simply offering family warmth, guidance and providing shelter to homeless children or mothers in need, or of the most transformative, spiritual directives. The ‘divine connection’ sought by so many is the driving of our own hearts to return in daily life to our original nature of natural compassion. “Seek no reward for your service. If another has no gratitude, forgive them. Do not be a doormat. Do not let others walk on you. If this occurs, bless them and continue onward.” Others joy is our own. Other suffering is our own. Others hearts are our own. There is no difference. Robert Adams regularly participated in many quiet arenas of devoted service/giving to others as a natural, relaxed and caring expression of his own heart. The crux of his personal experience includes an expanded arena of service to
Transcript of Birthday Celebration Narratives -- Robert Adams ... Adams Humanitarian.pdfreality. To truly...
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Birthday Celebration Narratives -- Robert Adams Humanitarian to All
TheAlleviationoftheSufferingofOthersPersonalExperiencesinComfortandJoy,inRobertAdamsGentleComfortingPresence.
“Iftheendresultofilluminationislove,compassionandhumility,whatifweweretodothatnow?”Wearecalledtocreatealifebrightandshining,dependentnotonwhathappenstous,butwhatwedowithwhathappens to us; transcending and transforming with the eternal, unchanging compassion of God. Anyone whoreachedout,whoaskedforhelp,whoemanatedtheslightestneedfornurturing,cherishing,deepinvestmentofourtimeandhearts,neverleftwithoutit.Thereisnootheroption.Benevolenceisdailylife.Whethersimplyofferingfamily warmth, guidance and providing shelter to homeless children or mothers in need, or of the mosttransformative,spiritualdirectives.The‘divineconnection’soughtbysomanyisthedrivingofourownheartstoreturnindailylifetoouroriginalnatureofnaturalcompassion.“Seeknorewardforyourservice.Ifanotherhasnogratitude,forgivethem.Donotbeadoormat.Donotletothers
walkonyou.Ifthisoccurs,blessthemandcontinueonward.”Othersjoyisourown.Othersufferingisourown.Othersheartsareourown.Thereisnodifference.RobertAdamsregularly participated inmanyquiet arenas of devoted service/giving to others as a natural, relaxed and caringexpressionofhisownheart.Thecruxofhispersonalexperienceincludesanexpandedarenaofserviceto
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othersfoundedonhisgentledirectivesof“Becomingalivingembodimentoflovingkindness.”Unannouncedandhumbleingraciousness,myfatherregularlysaid‘please’and‘thankyou’equallytothegarbagemanandavisitingdiplomatfromoverseaswhocametoformallyinterviewhim.Thissharedunionofheartsinwonderfulactivities,richinmeaningfulinteractionswithpeople(andanimals!)filledlifewithwonder,inthehappinessofrisingabovethisworld.Fatherandmothersboundlesslytender,rareandunusualassistanceinaspecificneedylifeencounter,demonstratedsupernalgracetoanyone-gratefulorungrateful.Ourparentsnurturing,cherishingandhealingonalevelbeyondabstractphilosophizing,oremotionallyremovedspiritualquotesdevoidoflove,spirituallyfulfilledadeepvoidforthosestudentsapproachingthemforhelp.Real.Pure.Manyseekersexperienceanearlylifelackofrequiredwarmdevelopmentalnurturingandunvarnishedcherishing. In themulti facedTeaching, the fundamentalsofhealthyemotionalself-responsibilityforouractionstoothersandourselvesisthenaturalresponseofourtruenature.YetthesearethemostfundamentalqualitiesoftheSupreme.Thisnurturing,cherishing,isrequiredforadultspiritualhealthinasolidpathofunfoldment.TheancientVedichonoringofthefamilyasaspiritualpathwithfulljoy,ratherthananobligation,duty,ordistraction,isonethatisoftenundervalued.Itisreveredasone’skarmicechoonearth,alegacyofemanatingonestrueSelf;loveomniscient.Alovethatisapracticalreality,unchangingandeternal.
“LeavethisWorldBetterforBeingHere.CreateaLifeBrightandShining.”
WhenDarknessDissolvesintoLight.WithFathertheTemporalFadesintotheEternalIntheBenevolenceProject,manymissionsandsheltersarestilltherecipientsof‘compassionatespirituality’,buttherewasanareainwhichonlymyfatherandmyselfshared,ashejoyfullyhonoredmyprojects,whereinwewerehonoredtorespondtorequestsfromhospicecenters,animalrescuesandconcertbenefits.Wewouldoftenvisitahospicecommunity intheevenings,wheremyfatherspokeat lengthonlyuponrequest, inagentleradianceofcounseling,holdingtheresidentguest’shands,sometimesmakingjokesthatbroughtsuchrobustlaughterthatitwashearddownthehall. “Oh, is thespiritual teacherhere?” thestaffwouldexcitedly inquire. Theatmosphereheightened.Theywouldrushdownthehallandsuddenly‘casually’appearintheroomtocatchthelaughterandjokes.Yes.Dadmadethehospicehappy,astheircarefreechildhoodwonderandwhimsyflickeredintheireyesinamazementthat itwasstill there,amidthepainanddaily lifeunexpected.Henever just ‘observed’or ‘sat’withthem,hesplasheddepthoflightandloveuponthemindisarmingpurity,whilepowerfullyguidingthemupwards,withwordsthatshiftedtheircynicismorsawtheirhighestessence,theirtrueSelf.Andtheyfeltit.Directly.
“Neverforgetthemostimportantthing.Love,compassionandhumility.”
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In thosemoments, all separations and divisions dissolved. In his full realization and reverence for the ultimatechallengeoftheirsituation,hisimpactingdirectemanationofferedfatherlycomfortingcompassionfortears,holdingthehandsoffamilymembersandnoddinginunderstanding,oftenlisteningforhoursatatime,althoughtheyhadtoldhimthesamestorylastweek.Atsomehospicefacilities,nooneotherthantheMedicalDirectorknewthathewasaspiritualteacherwitharichlineageofconfirmationtoareveredsaintbelovedinIndia,thousandsofbelovedstudents globally, simplywelcominghim, a fatherwithhis daughter, as kind volunteers.Occasionally, a lifelongstudentorclosefamilyfriendaccompaniedus.Wereadbeautifulscripturesofeternallifetothebedridden,oftenfrom their own faith, as they nodded in new pondering of the familiar. Accompanied by beautiful professionalperformingartistswhoplayedsoftambientmusic,includingfavoritehymnsofcomfortsuchasAmazingGrace,IntheGarden,andHisEyeisontheSparrow.HefilledtheirfearwithTheEternalasadirectexperienceratherthanwords.Thepersonalbeautyofheartemanatingtruthoffereddeepcomfort.Theyfeltsupremeholinessimmersingthem.Apure,seamlessstrengthofuncompromisedintegrityingoodwillwassensedinthosemomentsoftruth.
“Asyouareunfolding,spreadsunshinetoallyoumeet.”Hedidnotenterwitha roleofbeingmerelyneutralandobserving,ofknowing there isno ‘death’, thatweareeternal,andtheydidn’tknow,asiftheywerelacking.Ratherhispuregentility,seamless,tenderaquamarineeyeshumblyofferedawarm,authenticallydeeplyspiritualrefugethat instantly liftsoneup.Andadeeperconduittoeternalblisswithin,iftheywantedit.Theysensedhisgoodness,andthestrengthinwhichitisrootedasabsolutereality.Totrulyexperiencethis,asurrendertoabsoluterealityinitsnatureofselflessloveispivotalandnatural.Tochoosehowtospendthetimegiveninthislifeinthemostcondensed,richandvitalizingmannerisanessentialcharacteristicofhisMessage.Wewent toconcerts together, laughed, shared threedaily formal familycandlelitmeals,wenttoafilm,had long,warm,traditional lavishChristmasDaysforeverengraved inourhearts, itwasaspiritualdevotion;itallservedapurposeofdeepawakeningofmorelovethananyonedreamedtheyeverhaddeepintheirhearts,creatinganoasisofloveonthisearth-andthepossibilitiesforhumanityifwechosethatlove.Inthis,flourishestheancientVedicidealoffamily‘householder’liferatherthanmonastic;toexpandthelove,honorGodinoneanother,creatingalife‘brightandshining’inincreasingselflessness.“Thereisnodifferenceindevotionandinquiry,meditation,prayer.Onlythebeginningseekerseesadifference.Focusonbecomingholyandhumble.”“PartyingintheHospice”‘Asyouareunfolding,spreadsunshinetoallyoumeet.”Tospreaditratherthanspeakofitdefineshisverybeing.Sincehealways rosebefore the sun, thedayswere longand rich in texture.Keepinga ‘workday’of structuredcounseling,theeveningswereforlengthy,warmheartedfamilyfun.Whenweincreasedourhospiceeveningstomorethanoneaweek,severalresidentsdistinctlybecameethereallyliftedupintodeeplypersonalizedtransitions,occurringbeyondtheprofessionalexperiencesofanyofthestaffmembers.“Isheapriest?”oneaskedinhushedawe,asanelderlywomanthathadrefusedtocrossoveruntil‘he’arrivednowheldhishandandappearedtoglowinasoftgoldenlight,smilingastheywhisperedanancientchanttogether.AsIheldthehandsofbeautifulsouls,womenrisinginto‘thesplendorandtheglory’,deepgracedescended,andtheysmiled.Togetherwesangandmeditated,Iwhisperedofjoystheyremembered,risingintotheawarenessoftheirsaints,sagesandangelsofwhichtheywouldsoonfreelyperceiveandwelcomeastheveilsofthegrandillusionfadeaway.Godengulfedusinawashofpurepeaceoftheeternal.
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Thedirectorconveyedthatmanywhohadspenthoursspeakingquietlywithmyfatherhadstoppeddisplayingmanyphysicalsymptomsofdiscomfort,andevenrequestedcessationofcertaindrugs.Onelovely,elderly,delicateladywhowasmeditatingforforty-fiveminutesaweekwithustobeautifulliveviolinmusicpunctuatedwithdadstatinganassertationforhertoponder,hadnotleftherroomforweeks,althoughshewasabletowithassistance.
Oneeveningasheenteredtheroomshesatuptoshakehishandandbegantolaugh,totheshockofstaff.“I’llbegoshdarnedifIdidn’tswearIwouldnevergetupagain,Iwassoangry!AndnowthatIfinallyfoundsomepeaceandwanttogetupagain,I’mgonnaleavethisworldandIcan’t!”Shelaughedloudlyandcomically,causingthosepassingdownthehallwaytocomeintoseewhatwashappening.Ibroughtaspecialfreshlavendercakecoveredinlive flowers I hadprepared, a favorite of thewomanwhowas a classical pianist, and the staff served tea.Dadalwaysgaveaballoonorbroughtfreshflowers,andwiththemusicplaying,therare laughter,tworesidentstaffreferredtothevisitsas‘partyinginthehospice.’Ourfatherneverparticipatedintellingthemto‘letgo’or‘gointothe light’aswas the trendof thehelpingvolunteers. “God takescareof that.”Hesimplyoffereddeepupliftingbeauty,loveandrefuge,bringingthempalpablyintoanexperienceoftheEternal,iftheysowished.Iftheywereable,Dadwouldeventakearesident’shandanddanceinalittlecircleintheroomtotheirfavoritesong,orastheylayinbed,sometimesindeliberatehumor-totheirdelight.YouAreThatButitwastheeveningswhenthedarknessofthenightarrivedunnoticed,ashesoftlyspoketruthandcomforttothembedside,andasmalllampwasturnedoninthelittleroomsbythenurses.Theeveningswhenfatherliftedtheroomintoadramaticmetamorphosis-fromdarknesstolight,itwasapoolofdeepall-pervadingtangible,reigninglovebeyondanydescription,thatremains.Hisface,witheyesclosed,dissolvingsoftlyintopureholiness.Theeternalmoment,‘expandedintoInfinity.;Themomentofsuddendescendinggraceandmercybeyondallsuffering.Thoseeveningsremain.Forever.Echoingintheuniverse.Eternal.Unchanging.AsanymomentofdarknesstransfiguredintoTheLightofaThousandSunsremains;foreversacrosanct.Unhardenedbytheworld,shininganintegrityintakingresponsibilityforothershappiness,heintroducedmanytoaboundlessgivingandlovethattheydidnotknowexistedinthisworld.Manycreatedthecommonseparationof‘theworld’asalovelessillusion,withaveneerofspiritualitybeingtheonlyhopeoflove,oftenmakingitdifficultforseekerstofindpeaceindailylife.Withdad,lovefloodedoutinpracticalactionratherthanlecturing,philosophizing,quotes,debatesorseekingself-acclaim,butineffortlesswarmthofsolidspirituality,reminiscentoftheancientsintruespiritualaltruism,livinginthelevelof‘sattwa’orrareintegrity,inanagewherethisisnotacomponentofmostspiritualinterpretations.Rareintruth,wereturntotheoriginallovethatweoriginatedfrom,andreflectittoall.Wearecalledtodiveinbeyondtheveneer,tothecruxofTruth.AndthatTruthislove.Unchanging,omniscient,allpervading,eternal.TheTruthofwhowereallyare.Inthissurrender,Graceofthepurehearttranscendsallsuffering.“AndYou,areThat.”
“AndYou,areThat.Peace.Peace.Peace.”
CopyrightRobertAdamsInstituteExtractedfromTheInfinityJOURNAL,ThreeVirtuespodcast,andinnercircleclassevents.NonProfitDisclaimer:TheTeaching,DialoguesandRecordingsofRobertAdamsarecopyrightedandofferedsolelythroughhisownInstitute
