There is a very strong possibility for us to misunderstand
the Dharma. One particular mistake that plagues us is to make
the Dharma into a useful tool and believe that is enough.
What is meant here, is that we make the Dharma work for
us to improve our lot in life and think THAT is the Dharma.
We make it into a pragmatic program for personal growth.
We take it and put it into the service of our psyche in order
to acquire inner comfort and whatever we think happiness is.
This approach is a stopover. It's not the nonstop flight of Dharma.
When we use the Dharma in service of our ego, we might get lucky.
We might remain seated on these enticing stopovers. We might begin
to feel the uncomfortable sense of this project approach is not IT.
We might return to our seat while the flight refuels, changes
attendants and taxis down the runway.
And sometimes we decide to get off at the first signs of pleasure
which we mistake as a promised vacation from suffering.
We may even try to settle down there.
We may be looking for hospitality, a refuge from
loneliness and even a life mate so we get off and call it "home."
This is not our home.
For most, these stopovers are distractions. They teach us worldly Dharma,
tainted by material desire.There's no personal blame or shame. It's part of
practice and who knows where life's practice might take us?
If we are lucky, the thirst, the deep thirst for the
Dharma arises yet again and we begin to see more clearly until we meet it completed.
There's no telling where or when since we do not have a crystal ball,
but there are telltale signs. The telltale signs come to encourage us not
to get off, but to stay in our seat. These signs come to us when we see through
the enticements that come at us. We see that we have tasted and tried the
stopover fare and decide at last to remain seated on this nonstop flight to the Beloved.
