Self-reflection
Self-reflection is one of the most corrupt words and in terms of practice or instructions provided in many self-development or self-improvement books, the concept has been corrupted by the authors and most of the times the authors really do not know what even they are talking about. Self-aggrandizement has been depicted most of the time in the name of self-reflection. The western authors thought process is based upon consumption and hence the self-reflection concept has completely turned into self-aggrandizement. Not only the authors got confused with the term, they have more or less successfully confused the readers also. The authors from the east who got influenced by the corrupted concept of the western authors depiction, also turned astray.
Let us try to understand it deeper and in an actual manner. Let us look in terms of the Truth. Let us also understand the terms separately and together.
Primarily let us look at the word reflection. What does reflection mean? How does a reflection occur? If we can understand these questions and go deep into the physical and meta physical meaning and understanding of the answer that comes out of these questions, then we would be able to understand self-reflection. Otherwise what we understand is a shadow or a mask and walk into the understanding of self-aggrandizement rather than self-reflection.
For a reflection to happen, firstly there should be a light that is falling on a surface. Now if the light is a plain light, then what we see also is a reflection of the plain light. Let us consider an analogy of a movie being projected on an empty screen. In reality what we see or perceive in the form of a movie is a reflection of the light that is falling on the screen which is projected from the projector booth or the source of light. We see a hero, heroine, side characters, villain, comedian or any other character because of the light that is masked which is getting projected from the projector. Whenever we see the light and shadow of that of different characters, we also undergo different emotions. Out emotions are based upon the shadows and not based upon the light. We get attached to the movie because of the shadows that are in the light, which means we are in reality attached to the shadow which is created by the story teller or the director. The story is just a story and not the truth. The truth is the pure light rather than the shadow. It is the light which is true and not the shadow. Shadow is a corruption or thought process, or a taint built into the light to get us distracted from seeing the light. If we can understand this analogy, then we can understand self-reflection.
Whenever we are carrying out the exercise of self-reflection, what is that we are projecting as a shadow or as an information or a mask or a lens through which we are seeing? It is very important for us to realize what is the medium, mask or lens that we are using. Because, what we are going to see or perceive would be the reflection of that information only that we are projecting as a shadow and not any other light.
Most of the time the self-reflection exercises or tools that are provided for these exercises are based upon goal setting. They advise you to self-reflect and ask you to check where you are today, and ask you where you would like to see yourself in future. They further advise you to perform the gap analysis and based upon the gap analysis, chalk out a methodology on how you are going to achieve all those goals. And, always the goals result in obtaining a degree from a reputed university, acquiring a posh bungalow or a 4 BBHK apartment in a posh locality, or acquire the latest gadgets, furniture, cars, social status, an annual vacation in a cruise, or a beach, etc.
All the above process is based upon the shadow of a comparison (e.g., 2BBHK vs. 4BBHK; vacation in a hill station vs. vacation on a cruise, spending time in lavish hotel vs. spending time in a jungle experiencing an adventure) which is information based, and through which when the individuals performs the exercise of self-reflection, they actually end up in self-aggrandizement rather than self-reflection. Instead, if none of the information is provided or used, then what is that, that really gets reflected in terms of the reflection? What is that, that really gets reflected if there is no shadow that is built into the light? Then the light itself completely gets reflected.
Thus whenever an individual performs the self-reflection exercise, the self has to get reflected rather than the external information or self-aggrandizement.
To understand the self, one has to let go all the identities that of the body and the mind (all kinds of thoughts), then what remains will get reflected and from that reflection of true self one can understand what an individual in reality is and accordingly make the path to travel within.
Once an individual walks the path within and focuses on the reflection of the self, then that individual will understand that It is always that eternal Spirit rather than any other shadow or an information that is being projected on the screen of emptiness.
So, remember, next time whenever you carry out a self-reflection exercise, avoid using a shadow, a mask or a lens. Instead see only the light and through the light see your true Self on the screen of emptiness.
Guru is the one who shifts our perspective from that of the shadow to the light. Makes us to see the light, and through the light, see and merge into the eternal screen of emptiness.
"When thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light....Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness" (Luke 11:34-35).
From the Guru Gītā
gukāraścāṃdhakāro hi rukārasteja ucyate .
ajñānagrāsakaṃ brahma gurureva na saṃśayaḥ ..
gukāro bhavarogaḥ syāt rukārastannirodhakṛt ।
bhavarogaharatyācca gururityabhidhīyate ॥
gukāraśca guṇātīto rūpātīto rukārakaḥ ।
guṇarūpavihīnatvāt gururityabhidhīyate ॥
गुकारश्चांधकारो हि रुकारस्तेज उच्यते ।
अज्ञानग्रासकं ब्रह्म गुरुरेव न संशयः ॥
गुकारो भवरोगः स्यात् रुकारस्तन्निरोधकृत् ।
भवरोगहरत्याच्च गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥
गुकारश्च गुणातीतो रूपातीतो रुकारकः ।
गुणरूपविहीनत्वात् गुरुरित्यभिधीयते ॥
‘Gu' stands for darkness and ‘Ru' for light. Undoubtedly Guru is one who swallows ignorance
and he is ‘Parabrahma' himself by such an act.
’Gu’ is darkness; ’Ru’ is that which drives it away. As he drives away darkness, he is called
Guru.
'Gu' stands for one who is beyond the three Gunas or qualities; 'Ru' stands for one who is
beyond Rūpa or form. Guru is the personification of the Absolute without attributes and form.
