The Fast Path - Shiva's experiences studying with Rama, Dr Frederick Lenz

Chapter 24 - Priorities

My period of exile had just ended and I received an invitation to Los Angeles to attend a public meditation with Rama. I journeyed from Oregon for this three-day seminar and eagerly looked forward to seeing and meditating with my Teacher again!

It was hard to believe that I was here once again in a large room with over fourteen hundred people registering and about to finally sit with my Teacher again!

At the registration table, one of the ladies said, "Didn't you used to be a student?"

"Yes," I said. "I've been in Oregon, and Rama said I could once again attend the open meditations." She left and conferred with some other students and returned, smiled and welcomed me.

I noticed that I seemed to be the object of discussion with some of the women students. One even looked and pointed at me as they were talking.

I had known these women from my time before as a student. I really had little to do with them then and couldn't quite understand why they were paying me so much attention now. Finally, a heavy-set woman approached me and said, "Aren't you the one who has been teaching in Oregon?" I nodded yes and she left. I found my chair about three quarters of the way back.

It felt so good to feel Rama's energy like this once again. I started to meditate and once again enjoyed feeling the waves of energy sweep through the crowd.

Then this same woman moved through the crowd and sat next to me. I was a little uncomfortable, but I soon drifted back into meditation.

Rama entered and I focused totally upon him. I tried to be just with him. No one else. This was not easy as I was keenly aware of this lady sitting next to me. Still, I pushed her out of my attention and focused on Rama. Rama told us to sit up straight and we would meditate.

Then the lady did the most extraordinary thing! She moved her chair so that she was at a forty-five degree angle to me and Rama! I had to move my knees in order not to touch her. I could not believe it! This was one of the most rude actions that I had ever encountered as a student.

I closed my eyes and wondered if I should move. She would follow me, I decided. What could I do?

Rama said, "Focus on your purpose in being here tonight."

"Of course!" I thought. I did not travel fourteen hundred miles to focus on an incredibly rude student. I came to meditate on Rama. I focused on him and mentally pushed her away. Still, I could not fathom why anyone would attend a meditation with Rama and spend even a second focusing on me! Her priorities seemed to be a little skewed in this case.

With great difficulty I succeeded in pushing through this distraction during the meditation and waited for the break.

At the end of the break I spotted a seat with people on both sides. I grabbed it and was able to spend the rest of the meditation without interference.

Looking back, I am still amazed that this individual displayed such rudeness and a breech of spiritual etiquette. Most of all, I cannot fathom why she would waste her time focusing on me when her Teacher, Rama, was in the room! Having been away from my Teacher made me realize just how precious each moment was with him. It was all beyond me. I could only assume that her priorities were totally different from mine.

I also realized that the reason there are students is because individuals need to learn a body of knowledge. Just because someone is a student of an Enlightened Teacher doesn't mean that they are perfect. I knew that I certainly wasn't. In fact, the argument could be made that students of an Enlightened Teacher are usually far from perfect. Their saving grace is that they have been drawn into a field of awareness that allows for a doorway into Enlightenment.

Next >>