Innocence

In the day and age that we live in, there are many misconceptions pertaining to the spiritual way of life. Many people think that spirituality is only concerned with ritualistic meditation. There are many who never even try to comprehend the true scope of the spiritual journey before making a perception about it. Either often people think of the spiritual path as a complete waste of time or they think of it as a complete waste of money and time. All in all the common perception of spirituality is quite sullied in today’s day and age.

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While I was thinking in the same vein, I started asking myself some fundamental questions pertaining to true spirituality; as in what true spirituality yields the seeker in the end. Upon a great deal of introspection and meditation, I realized that there is one thing that truly differentiates an accomplished spiritual seeker from the common man; it is innocence.

Many would disagree at the aforementioned fact, for they think of innocence as a trait that is generally associated with young children. Look at a child’s face and you will simply be enamored by the innocence that is showcased in his smile. Just look into his eyes as they shine and sparkle bringing to your mind a complete and satisfied picture of pure bliss. It indeed is great joy to gaze upon a waddling toddler as he flashes a toothless grin up at you.

The reason why we derive such great joy from watching babies is the innocence that rests within them. Babies are virginal beings who are untouched by the illusions of this world. Granted that they too are a part of the redundant and recursive human existence, but they are yet unaffected by its shady quagmires. There is no self-identity within a child; there is no sense of ego; and there is no yearning of instinctive self-gratification. A child is an epitome of virginal bliss. There is great transparency within his eyes. Through his eyes, we can see God.

Innocence is indeed nothing but that. Innocence means complete transparency. There is no ego; there is no self, engrained within the soul and the supersoul. There is no feeling of instinctive self-identity on part of the soul and hence it always aspires and emulates the supersoul. In a way, innocence opens up the gates of heaven for the aspiring seeker. It brings within him a sense of insurmountable bliss and harmony. Even though a seeker’s innocence may prove detrimental in the worldly way of life, the accomplished seeker cares for it not. He knows it deep within himself that the Lord would look to his needs and that he would care for his child. Take a look at a baby, for instance; do you ever see him insecure? Do you ever see him in fear? It is only after he gets accustomed to the earthly existence, that the feeling of insecurity sets in. It is only then that the feeling of instinctive self-identity sets in; and it is there that the child loses his innocence and turns into a man.

If someone were to ask me, what I received after walking on the spiritual path, I would say naught but simply and smile and look into his eyes. The skeptics mind would deny the cognition, but the spirit would understand it. The spiritual path embellishes the spirit with a childlike ingenuity and virginal innocence. It embellishes the spirit with fearlessness and complete satisfaction.

Innocence is indeed a great trait. It is a state of being that is indeed very hard to attain. As one lives through the rot of worldly life, he can never retain his innocence; yet if one chooses to adopt a truly spiritual way of life, he would realize that the rewards that his spirit receives are beyond his wildest dreams…

The saint in the image attached herewith is Ramana Maharshi.

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