Attention

What are you worshipping?

I'd like to share with you a favorite Guru Deva story of mine. Guru Deva, also known as Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, was my teacher's teacher's teacher and a great Master of our tradition. One day, during a knowledge talk, a man approached Guru Deva and asked him what to do about an enemy of his. He said that his enemy was constantly on his mind; bothering and pestering his every thought. He was constantly looking for some way to be rid of or conquer this person who was causing him so much strife and taking up so much of his time.

Smilingly, Guru Deva responded, "It seems you've found someone to worship." The man was flabbergasted. He didn't understand. Guru Deva went on to say, "You spend day and night thinking about this person, they consume every last drop of your time and attention. That is worship."

This story has always resonated with me. Our attention is the most valuable thing we have. From a Vedic perspective, attention is the flow of consciousness. And that consciousness flow has a very nourishing, bolstering effect on wherever we place it. If we place it on stress, conflict, and drama, then that is what we will have more of. If we place it on unity, productivity, and growth, then we will have more of that.

Our diet, what we consume, is more than what we eat. What gets the bulk of your attention? What are you watching, reading, and listening to? Who are you spending time with? All of this affects our reality.

Our attention is always on something. Let's put it to good use and water the flowers instead of the weeds. Our world is for us as we are for it.