Seeker

Chaitanya

**Seeker**

***"A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." George A. Moore***

Seek. Most human beings are not sure what they truly want. They live on impulses, chase one experience after another, and function mechanically. Some do only the bare minimum to survive. They suffer the consequences of such living, yet continue repeating the same cycle, causing suffering to themselves and to others.

A consistent effort toward an unwavering goal transforms a person into a Seeker, who is willing to explore uncharted territory in pursuit of that goal.(1) What Does the Seeker Seek?

It can be anything money, power, fame, rank, love, bliss, or freedom.

So, A seeker is not a different kind of person; only the object of seeking has changed. People attain one object of desire, become satisfied for a while, and then begin looking for something better, more rewarding, or more fulfilling. Very rarely, however, a seeker perceives the futility of everything.Therefore, there is no process or trigger by which a person becomes a seeker. Only the object of desire changes.

For the purpose of this discussion, a Seeker is one who seeks freedom and bliss. We are then left with very few.

If such a seeker meets the Sadguru, the equation is complete. A chemical reaction occurs, sparks fly, and the equation is complete.

The only problem is that the story does not end so easily.

***"The musk deer searches the forest for the fragrance that comes from itself." Indian folk wisdom***

So, Seeker wanders and wanders.

Even if the Guru is right in front of him, he may not recognize or accept him. The reasons can be mundane and myriad:

* The seeker is not prepared.
* He is not interested or not interested at that particular time.
* He has doubts .
* He has not realised the importance of a Guru yet.
* He is unable to surrender.
* Circumstances, situations, and intellect may pose significant hindrances.
* Some seekers may feel the urge to explore independently before seeking guidance.

So, What Should a Seeker do until he meets a Guru?

* He should meet different Gurus with utmost sincerity, seek their guidance, and follow whatever aligns with his understanding and practical common sense.
Along the way, he will meet different seekers. He should interact with them and remain open to their ideas. If he finds anything useful, he should write it down. Fellow seekers become mirrors of his own quest. as they too will be continuously striving, practicing, or exploring.He need not try everything.
* He should record his insights and understanding and remain observant of life and its patterns.
* He should not disrespect any Guru or any path, a mistake that is especially common among seekers of the path of knowledge.
* He should Explore and test his boundaries.
* He should Learn from his mistakes and Pray that he finds a Guru.
* He should Speak less.
* Read about seekers, not merely Gurus.Study what made them great seekers and cultivate those habits and qualities. Remember: everyone reads about the Masters; few follow their instructions. Do not do what the Master does; do what the Master says.
* He should give different paths a fair chance in terms of both effort and time. If a path is finalized, he should at least practice its foundational practices.

Soon, he realizes that the desire to attain a goal requires effort and practice. Every effort requires certain capabilities and abilities, which in turn depend upon specific qualities.

By this stage, he will hopefully have realized that there are certain qualities common to seekers on any path, such as:

* Respect for Gurus
* Truthfulness
* Sincerity
* Reticence
* Determination and dedication
* Compassion
* Courage
* Patience
* Receptivity
* Minimalism
* Nonviolence
* The ability to serve

The true benchmark of these qualities is whether they are reflected in his life.

Therefore, a seeker should engage in honest self-evaluation to identify which qualities are lacking and make every effort to cultivate them. In this way, he prepares himself for the Guru.

***"When the student is ready, the teacher appears." Zen tradition***

**Until he meets his Guru, a seeker will not have complete clarity regarding Sādhan, Sādhya, and Sādhanā ** (means, goal, and practice). Nevertheless, he must continue striving.This striving and yearning prepare the seeker for the Guru's grace.

Eventually With grace, the seeker becomes one who is free of ignorance, established in selfless action, surrendered, and 
witnesses the knots of māyā gradually untying in the spirit of pure observation.
He is not striving to practice; he is becoming aligned.He is not perfecting anything; he is allowing himself to be perfected.2

What began as seeking ends in seeing.

There is no seeking.

There is no seeker.

**Peace.**

~ Seeker 
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For any errors, feedback and suggestions on this article or past articles or for suggestions of topics for the next articles
Please mail chaitanya.seeker@gmail.com

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1.English does not have equivalent word for beautiful hindi word "sadhak" . साधक "वह जो साध रहा है (sadhak means one who is trying to perfect something ).
2.साधक- वह साध नहीं रहा है, वह सध रहा है।"

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Seeker

Chaitanya