Solo – Wednesday February the 16th 2012 at Anand Krishna Information Center (AKIC) Solo, we held a study circle on one of Mr. Anand Krishna’s books. In that occasion, we chose the book entitled “Life: A Traveler’s Guide To Journey Within (2003)”. It was a continuation of the previous study circle discussing the book.
The study circle was opened by doing a simple practice of breathing led by the moderator of the study circle, Adrian Kristanto. It was then followed by a brief coordination on the closest agenda to be held by AKIC Solo. Then we started discussing the book.
The discussion was started by Brother Adrian Kristanto elaborating several sub chapters of one of the chapters of the book continuing the previous ones. Then every member was given a chance to actually give comments or sharing related with what was in the sub-chapters of the book.
Then it was the turn of one of the participants named Rahmad Darmawan, who happened to be the most handsome participant, at least compared to the other female participants, namely sister Itut and Ibu Rosita He commented on one of sub chapters elaborated by brother Adrian, namely: “Guru—Do you Need One?”
He, then, elaborated a content of an article once he read that was still related to the sub-chapter, namely the soul evolution and it’s need of a Guru in each level and step of evolution. He said that once a soul enters a human body, he starts his journey as a mind possessing creature. This early stage is called infant souls. In this stage, souls have a very narrow and limited perception of reality and are mostly exposed by a lesson of survival. Such kind of souls, most of the time, choose to be born in primitive tribes or less civilized environment where they can learn their very basis lessons.
In the next stage, human souls will enter the stage of baby souls. This stage is signified by the souls starting to have an intense interaction with man-made rules and dogmas. In this stage, souls tend to be extremely text-book oriented. They will put their holy books in such a high place that equal with that of God. Such phenomenon is understandable, since this stage is the souls’ first encounter with a glimpse of divinity found in the Holy Books, descended through Holy People of Mankind. This stage can be very dilemma tic and arduous, since souls need direct and ready made prescriptions on morality on how to behave and how to conduct. They cannot feed themselves. They need other people to feed them with the list of do’s and dont’s.
Next is young soul. This stage is signified by flaming dynamism possessed by such souls to change whatever considered being obstacles of one’s growth. In this stage, souls tend to be rebellious. They will question and criticize or even break man-made dogmas and rules that they consider inharmonious with the course of time. They also will be strongly achievement oriented. They tend to value life with a series of successes. This stage is the most restless among all others. Most of world citizens can be categorized as belonging to this stage. These young souls are the most active participants of our world who have contributed most of our major physical development and technology.
Next stage is mature soul. This stage is signified by souls starting to access the layer of intelligence of the universe and their own being. They start to be able to feel and the experience the oneness of life. They can see The One underlying every aspect of life and what is seen as various in a mortal’s view of reality. They start to go within and find the meaning of life. They are less active than the young souls and are no longer engaged actions causing more heavy karmas to their life. They start to listen to the call to life according to dharma and divine from guidance accessed from their intelligence.
The last stage of the soul’s evolution is old soul. Like old people, old souls have tasted and experienced the multi-faceted aspects of life. They have smelled and seen life from various angles and distances. Such souls are very few. As senior citizens of the world, they come again to teach, to guide, and to direct the direction of humans’ growth and evolution. Such souls are the real Guru of Mankind. But, to have a privilege to be under the feet of such True Guru, we have to be mature souls first. We have to have experienced and seen with our own soul’s eyes the nature of life and the real aroma of it. Then we have to work hard to learn every lesson of ours to be able to have a glimpse of the presence of Such a True Guru.
In accordance with this sharing from brother Rahmad, Pak Tri Widodo added that the development of what is called as neo-cortex is relatively very new in humans’ brain. Humans’ accessing their own intelligence is not an old phenomenon. He said that humans have potential to maximally blossom, but we have to remember that now we only have our consciousness as a seed. We have to put it in the right soil and nurture it in the right manner in order that it grows as a big tree of consciousness under which passer-bys can have a relaxing shade and from which people can get healthy fruits for their health. “We”, added he “must work hard to empower ourselves for our maximum potential’s growth that lead us to higher levels of evolution and more blissful state.
Then, all other participants came up with their brief comments on that topic propounded by brother Rahmad. Brother Adrian played a role as a controller of how each participant should address the idea. He put a high fence surrounding the theme of the discussion so that the participants won’t jump out and talks about the unwanted things. Well, we all acted like small children who really like to talk and gossip. Well, everybody likes gossiping. Who doesn’t?
Finally the study circle was closed by a prayer led by Brother Adrian preceded by the appointment of holding the next study circle discussing the same book, but different chapters on February 25th 2012, which was the following week.
That’s what we can share for now. We’re waiting for sharing from AKIC Semarang and Magelang.
Love and Light…
(Reporter and Translator: Rahmad Darmawan)
