January 2, 2010
Arun Toke
When we act out of love, we love ourselves
When people ask me to introduce myself, I usually say with an accent, “I am Arun, born and raised in India. I am an Indian American citizen.” If they ask for more, I might add, “I’m an ex-engineer, an editor of a multicultural magazine. An educator. I am a friend of so and so.”
I might add further, “I am a born-again ‘Universalist’ Hindu, a student of life, an interfaith activist.” Or, “I’m a vegetarian, nonsmoker, “tea”-totaler, health nut, pacifist, nature lover, an environmental activist.”
Depending on my mood, I might ramble, “And a world-traveling global citizen on a lifelong journey.”
If they belong to a Spanish-speaking culture, I try to stretch my Spanish skills. When talking with a European person, I mention my 3,000-kilometer bicycle trip in northern Europe.
Like most, I want people to like me, and so I tell them things about me that I think they might like. I try to show that we have many things in common. As an international, interfaith person, I hope everyone maintains their cultural, ethnic and religious traditions, and at the same time embraces the diversity of our global family. While treasuring our own heritage, family and experiences, we can still venture out of our particular cultural, national or religious cocoons.
“But who are you, really?” I ask myself when I’m going inward. Ever since meeting my spiritual teacher, Amma, who has set me on my spiritual path, I know that I am not my brown skin. I am not my body, mind or even my thoughts. I am not these worldly identities: father, Hindu or an Indian-American.
I’m trying to understand that the true “I” in me is the consciousness that makes me who I am, and also the consciousness that makes you who you are. I believe we are all representations of the same universal consciousness. I am the Self. You are the Self. Together, we are the One!
We are so interconnected that Amma says, “Children, you cannot harm anyone without injuring yourself, nor can you help anyone without benefiting yourself.” When we act out of love, we love ourselves as well. If someone else is in pain, we feel the hurt, too.
I know that a day will come when my physical body will no longer be active, no longer be needed. It will be time to leave it behind, to be free of its physical limitations. There will be no pain, no hunger, no suffering. No thoughts of discrimination or prejudice.
The spirit will glide in the infinite space, become one with the universal consciousness — a pure, awake state of awareness. It will not be stopped by any national borders or geographical barriers. The “I” will merge with the whole creation — ants and plants, animals and minerals. What a unifying experience will that be!
But why wait till the end, I ask? I might realize that oneness now by putting myself in others’ shoes, by feeling their pains and joys, understanding their points of view, and by treating others well!
Arun Toké belongs to Amma’s Eugene Satsang and is editor of “Skipping Stones,” an international multicultural magazine for children and youth. This column is coordinated by Lane Interfaith Alliance to offer inspiration, share spiritual experiences and bring a deeper understanding of faith perspectives with the intention of blessing our community. For information, visit www.laneinterfaithalliance.org or call 344-0430.