Responsibility–what is it?

A few years ago, I noticed that I only had one responsibility– to wake myself up. Only then could I serve others in a meaningful way. All other responsibilities follow, naturally, and without effort.

As the third child in our family, I was unused to stepping up and taking care of myself. Everyone else did that for me. My older siblings spoke for me; my parents and teachers told me what to do. So I entered the spiritual path forty-one years ago thinking that someone else would show me “enlightenment.”

Well, they didn’t.

And they couldn’t.

Being in the presence of someone who has experienced the direct truth is very helpful. In their kindness, they point. But WE have to “do the work.” We have to look, and look again. We have to be willing to release all beliefs about how we think about life. Reading about someone else’s experience may be interesting, exciting even, but it won’t fulfill what we long for.

Only you, beloved, can fulfill your own longing.

© Amrita Skye Blaine, 2013
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