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Why Am I A Maitreyian?
I am a Maitreyian because 23 years ago, in 1988, I met a man and a people
who so moved my heart and spirit that I wanted to join him and them, in a
way that was so strong and so powerful that nothing could stop me.
But why did I remain a Maitreyian?
I remember being 5 years old, and
visiting my aunt and cousins in their rural house in
Michigan. My dad and mom went away on a week long
trip and left me in my aunt’s care. My aunt had a dog, which they said was
their “hunting dog.” They kept this dog chained up outside. It had food, and
water, and all the necessities of life. They were good people, and they
didn’t beat or hurt the dog in any way. But most of its days and nights were
spent chained up outside. For some reason they just didn’t feel its pain. I
remember looking at the dog through the large bay window of my aunt’s house
and feeling such misery. Whenever I would get near the dog it would whine
and whimper and cry until I went over and gave it a pet and a hug. I
remember spending hours with the dog. All it wanted was a little love and
affection. Missing my Mom and Dad terribly I had a lot to spare. So every
chance I got I sat with the dog. I wanted so bad to take off the leash and
set it free. But I knew I couldn’t do that, it wasn’t my place, and besides,
it would probably get run over in the street. So I did what I could, but my
heart ached so bad for that dog. And when my Mom and Dad came to pick me up
I had to leave and I knew that there would be no one there for the dog and
eventually it would die, alone, chained, whimpering. It hurts to think of
that poor dog even today though I know he is long since dead and gone.
When I reflect on it, I think people are no different than that poor
dog. Most of human suffering can be cured by a little love, and affection,
and true freedom. That is what Maitreya and being a part of Maitreya’s Holy
Community has given to me, in such a deep, personal and mystical way that my
suffering has been wiped away.
No matter how hard I tried or how much
I did, I could not give that dog permanent relief from his suffering. And I
couldn’t give any person that kind of relief either, until I met Maitreya.
Maitreya has given me permanent relief from suffering. Not just after this
life, but within it. And even more, he has given me a way to permanently
relieve the suffering of others, and of humanity, and ultimately all
creatures.
Why do I remain a Maitreyian? Because through Maitreya I
know that I have the cure for suffering, sorrow, death and rebirth. Not as a
cliche, but in a real and personal manner. I have the cure for myself, and
for anyone who wants it. And I am no longer helpless to help others. I don’t
have to sit back and watch people and creatures suffer, and sorrow and die,
helpless to do anything real about it. Maitreya has cured me, and now I have
the cure to give to anyone who wants it. Not with a closed fist like so many
fundamentalists give Salvation, but with an open palm, in love and freedom.
Ila
A Blessing from God and a Lesson in Surrender
“Let go and let God” - How many times has Maitreya
said that to me? So many. I say Our prayer, “O my God, I surrender to
Thee.” Yes, I say it, but saying it without doing it means nothing.
Well, that was never easy for me. It has taken many years to really do
it.
“Oh God,” I used to cry, “Please help me.” But I
never got the help. Or so I thought! In fact I didn’t recognize when God
was helping me, not for a long time. I wouldn’t surrender . I didn’t
“Let go and let God!” So much so that, when God sent me to Maitreya
the first time I totally missed His help. I didn’t recognize that God
was sending me to him, answering my prayer. I hadn’t surrendered to Him,
opened myself to His Guidance.
But I was so Blessed. God gave me another chance.
. .
When I first came to the
Los Angeles area, I lived
with a man I had met in my travels. We lived together for a time, but it
was not working out. We were giving up the apartment in
Hermosa Beach, and Larry was going to go back
to his parents’ house. So he was helping me find a place to live. He
found an ad for a room for rent in
Redondo Beach. That that
night we drove near the address. We parked the car down the street. We
walked together to see the house.
It was a dark night. No moon. Windy. We came upon
this old, two-story house – “that’s the right address.” “Oh my gosh!”
The dark brown paint was peeling off it, there were no apparent lights
on, the curtains were drawn closed. It looked spooky. The front yard was
overrun with weeds, the verandah was overrun with crawling plants. It
really freaked me out. It really did! I took one look at it and said,
“No, Larry - I don’t want to even knock on the door. Let’s go.”
About six months later, I visited that house again
under very different circumstances. By then I had met Maitreya. Life was
a joy, “hanging out” with Maitreya and his friends, still unaware of who
he really was.
It’s the 4th of July. Maitreya says, “Let’s all
drive down to my house in
Redondo Beach. We can watch the fireworks from
the front yard.” “Great,” I’m thinking, “ I’ve wanted to see his home
for some time.” We all jump in his old VW Van and drive the 20 miles to
his house. Lo and behold! It is the same house! His house! His house!
And it was beautiful on the inside! Light and full of love and joy. It
excited my mind! I decided I wanted to live there.
God had led me to Maitreya six months earlier, and
I ignored His Guidance! So He led me to him again in a different way, in
different circumstances that I could accept. Wow! How many people get a
second chance! I know with a total certainty that God was looking
out for me. Helping me. Answering my prayer! I ignored His Guidance and
His Help the first time, and still He led me to Maitreya a second time.
In an area the size of
Los Angeles, filled with
millions of people, it is amazing for that to happen - without God’s
help!
Maitreya has since taught me, “Never turn down a
gift, ignore an insight, ignore guidance, because once you ignore it, it
will be much harder to get it again. When a door opens, and you won’t go
through, it shuts on you and the opportunity may not come again.”
I nearly missed my chance to
find Maitreya, to receive His Holy Initiation. He has saved me from
suffering and sorrow in this life, and given me the opportunity to go
Home to God at the end of my life, and to help others to do the same.
I am truly Blessed that God gave me a second chance
to find Maitreya. Jai Bhagavan Ji!
Tara Friend
(P.S. – Maitreya’s house is just like him. On the
outside, he looks like any ordinary man. He often says, “I’m just a
corn-fed
Iowa boy.” But inside, he
is like a beacon of light that shines out with compassion and grace.
Some people do to him what I did to his house the first time – miss the
beauty, miss his Spirituality, miss his compassion and love for all
souls. And concentrate on the outward appearance only. Based on
expectations, pre-set ideas of how a Maitreya “should be” and missing
the Real Maitreya.)
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