Learn From Everywhere
We all know that we imitate many people around us. Have you ever thought that how much stress it creates?
Let me tell you one anecdote first. When Rabbi Nor, Rabbi Moudekai’s son, assumed the succession after his father’s death, his disciples noted that there were a number of ways in which he conducted himself differently to his father, and asked him about this. ‘I do just as my father did,’ he replied.’He did not imitate and I do not imitate.’
Imitation means you will not live according to your own spontaneity, you will live according to somebody else as your image; you will follow somebody else’s character, behavior, way of life. You will have to impose. What will you do if you want to follow Christ; if you want to imitate Christ, what will you do? You will act like Christ! What else can you do? It will be a drama, it will not be a real, true life.
Learn from everywhere. Learn from Jesus, learn from Buddha – they have something great to share with you. Participate in that sharing, but never imitate.
God has given you a life to be lived, and lived spontaneously, with no pattern. Don’t become a slave and don’t become an imitator. Love yourself, respect yourself, and try to live your life the way you feel it. And even if you are a failure you will be contented. And imitating somebody else, even if you succeed, you will remain empty inside, filled with straw and nothing else. Alas!
Start learning from everywhere and you will be surprised that imitation has drop out. You will be more fresh and less stressed.
