Navigating through the Journey

So you've chosen the Path of Knowledge, you have chosen the most direct path, the quickest.  Now what to do? What will I find?  Where will I go?


I was warned of things that would happen upon choosing this path.  Mind explosions, beliefs blasted from existence, reality being turned upside down, a roller coaster of emotions, and the loosing.  I was told about it, but the skeptic in me wasn't fully on board.  See prior to this, I was very extroverted, i get energy from interacting with people.  And with loosing, what I mean is -- loosing interest in things one would do prior to going on this path -- say for example; partying, drinking, clubbing, gossip, drugs and what have you.  Given that most of those things, a seeker would already give up once the seeking takes shape.  And the actual seeking I've noticed happened a few years ago, getting this feeling that something isn't quite right, but you just can't put a finger on it.  Slowly things that you used to do everyday, you do less and less.  It isn't that you hate doing them now, it's just the interest is gone.


But when serious seeking takes shape, things happen so fast, you're left somewhat dizzy in it's wake. What struck me the most was, people close to me falling off.  Very surreal yet natural, it seems as if it was meant to happen, you struggle to find common things to talk about.  Somehow talking about old topics of interest has lost it's glimmer.  You're consumed by something else altogether, and the people in your life do not understand it.  Some may say that maybe you've gone insane, or if you joined a cult, or too much thinking about things is not productive, you seem artificial and robotic.  People won't understand it, and it is not up to you to shove the understanding up their throats.  The funny thing is, you know what they're thinking without them telling you, because now you have a better understanding of your mind, and thus see yourself in others and see their tendencies because you have them too.


Alright you may say, I see how they think, but how do I communicate?  When dealing with people who do not understand you, just be quiet and let them talk, maybe change topics when they start getting mad, never add to the anger, you feel when there is a shift in their mood, so be mindful and not influence them in any way.  Pretend to be your old self, then think of a way out of the conversation, and always do it in a respectful manner.  The first few times, the ego will rear it's head when certain things are said, stop, breathe and get your bearings.  Awareness is and will always be the key, until such a time comes that everything just becomes so natural.  And don't beat yourself up for getting mad, just be aware or these emotions, watch it go.


Another thing is, as you take this path, one will come across hurdles.  They seem confusing at first, a lure of some sort, perhaps something that you wanted long ago that has manifested itself all of a sudden.  Think twice, thrice or a hundred times before interacting with this lure.  This comes to seduce one back to his/her old ways, and it coming like this, is a signal that your practice is bearing fruit.  Continue your practice and go towards your path, it's the only way to grow.  And in my experience, after the realization, it is quite impossible to go back,  do a 180.  The knowledge is already there and that will never go away.


This is another thing that we do -- comparison.  Never compare your journey to someone else's, this is not a competition.  We are in the core of it all one, but our ignorance makes us take different paths to understanding.  Each persons way is different and that is how it is, our prior conditioning and intentions plays a big role in this relearning.  Others get it in a snap of a finger, while others need graphs and charts, these are all fine, we are all getting there in out own pace.  There is no need to worry or be anxious, remember that you will not be where you are now, if things unfolded differently. 


What do you get after the journey?  Enlightenment?  You are already the light, it has never dimmed, it was just the ignoring that happened, the forgetting of what we are.  So the journey is remembering and relearning, like an amnesiac getting all of his memories back.  As stated before, nothing will be gained everything you think you have you will loose, happiness resurfaces.  It's like you're a dirty mirror that gets a good polishing.  And you will not get anything, as soon as you start, you loose things.  It sounds grim, but you will find peace and happiness. 


So the path is a journey within, to knowing yourself, your true Self. And at last learning to truly love.