1. Life is the True Miracle
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Once, I clapped my hand and produced an idol. The people in the room thought it was a miracle.
I explained to the group that it was not a miracle, but merely a sleight of hand. I had merely teleported the idol by moving it from my room to my hand.
Does a cell phone seem like a miracle to us? No, it is just a tool. Teleportation is another tool, just like our cell phones. Sound waves move between cell phones enabling us to talk to each other. When I teleported the object from the room, I simply converted the idol into energy, teleported it, and reconverted the energy back into matter. That's all.
When we don't know the cause and effect relationship, we call these actions miracles. Some people equate gaining these 'miraculous' powers to being in an elevated spiritual state. Nothing can be further from the truth than this. If we understand this, we will begin to appreciate the real miracles of our universe. These ‘powers’ are merely distractions on the spiritual path. They are no measure of the spiritual state one is in. Every spiritual aspirant should have a single lofty goal – to experience the collective consciousness and merge into it.
A small parable narrated by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, an enlightened master from Dakshineshwar, West Bengal, India, explains the foolishness of chasing these so-called miracles.
Two brothers selected different paths in their lives. The younger brother decided to become a monk and the elder brother entered into business. After 15 years, the younger brother returned home. The elder brother had by now became a rich businessman in the area. He received his younger brother well.
As they began to discuss their achievements, the elder brother said, ‘I have acquired material riches and gains. How have you fared?’
Without a word, the younger brother stood up and walked to the riverbank. He walked across the water and reached the other side of the river. The elder brother rode the ferry and joined him on the opposite bank.
Bursting with pride, the younger brother said, ‘This is my achievement!’
The elder brother said, ‘Did you spend all the time learning this? I achieved the same result by spending two rupees. What a waste of your life, time and effort!’
This is what happens to us when we get caught in the world of so-called miracles. We miss the real miracle that is Life itself.
Appreciate that life itself is a miracle. The gift of life is the best thing that has happened to us - the most significant miracle.