53. Being awakened is not Mastery.

Enlightenment with Rishi Atma Bodha

To be a true Master is about mastering your mind and defanging the primal animalistic savagery of your negative emotions.

Certainly, you can have Awakening experiences while still in the process of mastering and coming into Yourself fully. However, these temporary experiences and flashes of inspiration are no substitute for the continuous and never-ending Bliss that a True master resides in.

There are less, much less of these True masters than I would like to see. Apparently, they are extremely rare. A True master is not about being the master of others, but about inspiring others. Only the weak have a style of leadership that seeks to dominate through oppressive fear-based tactics or by worldly enticements. Unfortunately this type of leader is more common in these times than the ideal.

There is a reason why Western culture dominated the world for centuries with its inventive innovation via technology, education, art, music and culture. True progress is made by recognizing excellence and rewarding it, instead of discouraging such things in a Eastern-style monastic pursuit.

The same principle applies on the path to truly Enlightened mastery. It is by accepting and identifying only with the Excellence within you that you can overcome your limitations. This inward spark of purity can be stoked into a raging inferno that can burn away the impurities holding you back.

By having the courage of conviction and focusing on your inner voice, you can prevail against the external distractions that seek to keep you in perpetual slumber.

This is True mastery, when you have the loving internal resilience to be the authentic You, no matter what challenges you face. Passivity to external influences leads always to negativity, because to be passive is literally a negative concept. Truth and positivity are assertive forces for good. Be the leader of your own dance, not the submissive spectator of it.

Of course, not everyone will be quick to choose this most Supreme path. Regardless, this most Illuminating and Empowering of all outcomes is inevitable for everyone.