The Remedy was on the inside

Tony was reading a poster about a spiritual workshop; its topic brought back a sad realization. But the last line said it was cancelled -- the spiritual master who was to lead it had died suddenly.

Twenty years ago, Tony was happy. He and this master were in the same spiritual group. The master was not well known then. He was cheerful and hopeful and a great pianist, playing beautiful, spiritual songs. Tony remembered bumping into this master after not seeing him for a decade. The master had become highly regarded as a teacher of spiritual practice. But oddly, Tony felt he had lost that happy and glowing spirit.

A few years ago, Tony lost his love relationship and the balance in his life. For quite some time, he had been drifting, both mentally and spiritually. Unexpectedly, a chance for Tony to meet this spiritual master appeared. The master was now very famous so Tony hoped some light could be shone on to his troubles. It felt like a divine intervention for Tony.

Expecting to be recommended some classes to revive him, Tony told the master about the twists and turns of his life and what he had learned.

But the master said: “Don’t come to any of my classes, they can’t help you. What I am going to tell you, I haven’t told anyone. I am telling you because you have learnt so much from life. My beliefs have shifted. I don’t teach what I truly believe anymore. My teaching still thrives because I know what my audience can accept and what they like to hear. But what I can teach doesn’t apply to you. You have gone far beyond that …”

After this meeting Tony was sick for two months. In seeking help from others to find his balance and a new direction, he felt he had lost even more. After this encounter, Tony had changed. Sadly, it seemed the master had not.

He stopped looking outside for answers and started scanning the thoughts inside him. His habitual and routine ways of thinking had seemed so natural, like basic instincts, but they were actually a mask for fear, and his behavior was a reaction to his deep emotions. Most importantly, he realized his thoughts could be reshaped and reformed and then his reactions would realign. The world around him changed so much.

Now, Tony is hopeful and cheerful, treating himself as a practitioner of living a genuine life of abundance and colour. He scans and realigns his thoughts daily, and expresses his feelings clearly from a loving base. His words and deeds now reflect his true inner self.

Tony is my very close friend. If you would like to know the exercises he routinely uses for his thoughts, please drop me a line at talkto@higyfung.com