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