The One Thing Spiritual Teacher’s Agree On

Many years ago I went to India to visit a disciple of Ramana Maharshi named Poonjaji. As I nervously sat down on the floor in front of the Master, he carefully looked me over and then asked, “Who are you?” I didn’t know what to say, so I blurted out, “I’m Jonathan Robinson.” Well, Poonjaji and the 50 people in the audience began laughing as if that was the funniest answer they’d ever heard. In my thoughts I said to myself, “I guess that was the wrong answer.”

Once people were done laughing, Poonjaji looked me in the eyes and compassionately said, “Who are you really?” Once again, I didn’t know what to say, so I mumbled, “I’m a seeker.” Poonjaji slowly shook his head from side to side, silently conveying that my latest answer wasn’t any better than the first. He asked me again and again who I was, and each time I answered Poonjaji quietly shook his head — indicating I was not responding correctly.

Finally, I had run out of answers to his question. With nothing left to say, I sat quietly and looked into his eyes. As I looked into his deeply piercing eyes, I was suddenly “hit” with what could best be described as a wave of loving energy. My former identity as a separate personality disappeared, and it was replaced with a feeling of pure love and peace. It was overwhelming. I began sobbing. I had never felt so much love in my life.

As I sobbed in front of Poonjaji, he tapped me lightly on the head and said to me, “This love and peace is your awareness. It is who you really are; this is your true nature…and your job in…