When I was an
undergraduate many years ago, my deep
admiration for the works of William
Shakespeare first blossomed. My passion for
his plays has been an integral part of
my life, and his writings have taught me
many important things.
Shakespeare: An Enlightened Being
During my undergraduate
years, I had the privilege of taking a
Shakespearean class and was also able to
travel through Europe. I vividly remember
going to Stratford-upon-Avon and watching a
Shakespeare play,
As You Like It.
The words, “All the world’s a stage, and all
the men and women merely players. They have
their exits and their entrances. And one man
in his time plays many parts; his acts being
seven ages,” struck a profound chord deep
within me. Shakespeare’s words are not
merely those of a playwright but instead,
those of an enlightened being. He describes
who we are with great insight and accuracy.
It’s Just a Play
Everything is one. There can only be that
which is permanent. That which is permanent
has always been and always will be.
Everything arises from this oneness, this
non-dual, this supreme self or supreme
reality. Anything that is impermanent will
change. It cannot be that which is real
because it won’t last. It can only be a
reflection or, to use an analogy, a play.
Our life is a play and it’s being played so
well that we’ve forgotten that we’re the
director, the players, the stage, the words,
and everything else.
In forgetting this important information, we
have caused suffering upon ourselves. If we
realize that life is but a stage and that
all that we are is a witness, then our
suffering can end. We may roar out with
laughter during the happy parts and we may
cry out with pain during the sad, but we can
stand back and realize it’s
just a play.
Without the attachments, the suffering
ends. We can
just be with life; we
flow with it and accept it.
Forgetting Our Supreme Reality Has Caused
Us to Suffer
We are that out of which everything comes.
When we awaken to this truth, then we
discover who we are. We can deeply enjoy
life’s play because we don’t identify with
the players anymore. Yes, there is still
pain and pleasure, but because we don’t
identify with these parts, they come and go;
we, however, remain the true self of who we
are. We awaken to the fact that we are the
dreamer and the playwright of our play:
ultimately, we are the Shakespeare of the
Universe. All we have to do is play our
part, witness who we are, and enjoy the
journey of life which has gone on forever
and will go on forever. New universes will
be created, new plays will be enacted, but
we will remain the ultimate supreme reality
of everything. As we create our lives, we
preserve stories and we also destroy or end
them. We are and will continue to be the
creator of an infinite number of universes
that will come and go.
When we identify with ourselves as that out
of which everything comes, we awaken to who
we are, the supreme reality out of which
everything arises or ever will arise. The
only thing that we can ultimately be is that
which is permanent; the only thing is our
awareness and witnessing of the play of
life. When the play ends, or when we sleep
at night, we return to the supreme reality
out of which everything comes, everything
is, and everything will be. When we
identify with our true selves, our natural
state of happiness and bliss is the way in
which we live our lives and it becomes who
we are.
Our lives are being played and the scripts
were written long before we were born. We
must wake up to who we are, and to discover
that we are every part of life’s play and
all the world’s a stage. We are merely
players; we have our exits and our
entrances. Ultimately, we are that which
proceeds and precedes the play, out of which
every play in this universe and every
universe that ever will be, arises.
His blog is at
www.Meditation-Enlightenment.com