Searching for the Default Mode

There is a man who knows nothing. Maybe more accurately, he knows nothing about anything outside of this world, this earth, this matter or this life. Even his view of the things of this planet is extremely limited. He understands that the things of earth are studied, but what about the things not of this world? He does not have any proof that any person in human form knows those things. No proof that death has been transcended, nor that any living person at any time has seen what is going on beyond life as we know it. It is all based on hearsay and faith.

So many ideas, so many religions, so many truths. The different beliefs are exactly that – different.

His faith is already weak, and as he ponders these ideas, it weakens further. He needs to keep his wits about him in this crazy world. He needs to find his place of solace, his safe space. He needs to set his mind to go there automatically – to set it as his default mode.

Where does he find his default mode? There is a voice inside him that pushes him to go on, throughout the day and into the night. In his mind he steps back and tries to simplify things. He has to look for things he knows without doubt. He has to find proof. Or maybe not? Then the morning comes, and he realizes it is going to be another hot day. As the sun rises he tries to take in this phenomenon over a cup of coffee – a sun which rises.

His mind wanders on. He starts thinking that soon, within a month or two, the heat will begin to dissipate. Autumn will approach and winter will follow. And then before he knows it, spring will arrive, bringing new life. Again he wonders what it is that makes all of this happen. This lifesustaining fireball further up in the sky now, and tonight a moon. Birds twitter, ants are hard at work, storms are blowing, flowers blossoming, trees are swaying in a breeze that will bring rain.

Some energy is in operation. There cannot be any doubt. He takes it in as simply and plainly as it is presented; no hidden meanings. Then it strikes him – if he ever needed proof, this is it! His thoughts of the sun, the moon, the planets and galaxies, the animals and plants on earth, the winds, the clouds, the land and water, suddenly make him feel alive. This abundance of life and movement, the existence of a sustaining energy, this is proof!

Can there be different words from different religions for the same thing – an energy or a creative life force?

And then he remembers there is a path that he knows of which encapsulates all religions. A path which does not divide, but unites. Which says it does not matter what beliefs you follow; you don’t have to let it go to walk this path.

It explains, with the concepts of reincarnation and karma, why some have it so good here and others live terrible lives.

He remembers a quote by Hafiz, which reads:

The Beloved is with us day and night, O Hafiz!
He is the very life that flows in our veins.
_{Khwaja Hafiz}

He realizes that he can hardly grasp the enormity of this statement. But then he remembers, no, he knows, that that energy is present, here and now, every moment. He is looking at it right now!

The path tells him that his intellect is too small to understand the creation, that he sees it from a very limited perspective. That he does not have to know it all. He only has to know very few things. He doesn’t have to remember anything else.

And yes, faith is important, but now he can actually work it out for himself. Because it is the Truth. And to this path he can just come with humility and sincerity and love. He can just come and listen to a true, living teacher. And he can decide to have faith, or he can decide not to have faith, but either way, as he contemplates his weaknesses, he remembers that he actually has proof.

So he goes back to the very few things he needs to know, the basics taught by the teacher. He doesn’t have to know anything else: lacto-vegetarianism, no alcohol or drugs, a pure and moral life, and prayer.

And how does he pray? Oh yes! He’s been taught – meditation.

Suddenly relief washes over him, and he sets his default mode before pouring another cup of coffee.