Two Rama's

There was a point in time when Rama realized that his students, for the most part born into a Western culture where the traditions about teachers, teachings and Enlightenment are so different from the East, were at a real disadvantage in understanding the dynamics involved in a true teacher-student relationship. Every once in a while, he would see that there was some critical factor in understanding how to interact with him that we were missing or misunderstanding, and he would stop to explain it to us, very patiently.

One night, pointing to his body, Rama said - "You think that this is what I am, and when you come to see me, whether you and I are talking one-on-one, or you are listening to me give a talk, you think that that is what it's all about. This is a big mistake. You have to remember, you are dealing with two Rama's here." He held up his hand with two fingers extended.

"There's this personality that was born in this body, and you like what I have to say, or you dislike what I have to say, or whatever, but that's not where things are really happening. There's this body, and then there's the energy field that surrounds me - that contains the aura of Enlightenment - and that is the true me.

"When you come into contact with the energy field - by being here with me, or by listening to a tape or reading a book, or by thinking about me - that's when things really happen. That energy field - the body of light - amplifies whatever you bring into it or touch it with. Bring your brightest, happiest thoughts, and they will be amplified. Bring and hold onto your worries and what makes you unhappy, and you will become even more unhappy. Bring your upsets and let them go, and you will go from unhappy to happy.

"It's very simple, really. Stop thinking about me as this body and this personality. What you really want to remember is the aura - how to connect with the aura of an Enlightened Being, and how to bring to it your very best. You don't have to be perfect to connect with this aura - just bring it the best you can.

"Stop being so concerned about 'this Rama' and whether he talked to you tonight, or what he said or what tone he used. Remember always that what's important in our relationship is your connection with 'that Rama'".

Now, although those of us who knew Rama may be sorry not to have him stride into our midst once more, with his long legs, curly hair, outrageous smile, and that look of complete, compassionate awareness - we can always remember these words, and our new friends who won't have the opportunity to meet him physically will benefit from understanding this too.

Based on what Rama told us, and on the experiences in meditation and mindfulness that I and my colleagues have had since Rama died, I believe this is still completely true. 'Rama the energy field', the being that chose to incarnate for a period of time, in the West, within that particular body, is still available, is still present, and is every bit as concerned with our being able to move our minds and beings towards the Light as he ever was.

All we have to do, is to bring to 'that Rama' our best, brightest and happiest being, and we too will gradually become less and less 'this', the being born into a particular body at a particular time, and instead become more and more 'that' - the Light.

-- Deborah DePing An