The Poor Martas

Today, I’d like to tell you a story from the writings of the life and teachings of the first century mahavatar and wisdom teacher, Yeshu’a an Nasiri Ihidaya (1)

One day, Yeshu’a Ihidaya and a group of his followers were passing through the town of Beth Anya, the home of two sisters named Marta (Martha) and Maryam (Mary), who were also disciples of Yeshu’a Ihidaya.

Arriving at the home of the two sisters, they enthusiastically welcomed the teacher and his traveling band of ragamuffins for an evening meal.

Marta rolled up her sleeves and started preparing the meal.

Maryam, on the other hand, apparently sat down with the men

(as in many ancient societies, during that time period, a rather scandalous thing for a woman to do)

while Yeshu’a was teaching —

listening intently —

hanging on every word the master spoke.

After a time, Marta, who was working in the kitchen,

frustrated with doing all the heavy labour,

poked her head out from the kitchen

and protested,

“Master, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?

Tell her to come and help!”

And though the written accounts do not record Yeshu’a’s tone, mannerisms, or facial expressions,

perhaps we might play with this story a little

and imagine that Yeshu’a turned to Marta with kindness, empathy and compassion (and perhaps a playful little twinkle in his eye),

looked straight into her heart

and put his finger on the real (and ultimately more important) issue,

“Marta!

Oh my dear Marta!

You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is really important right now.

Maryam has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken away from her.

Come my sister!

Sit here beside me as well!”

mac’s field notes

In this density of experience, work is necessary

and a hard-working personal ethic can be, at times (when in balance) an admirable quality.

If we happen to be engaged in activities that we truly en-joy, work can also be a source whereby we experience a sense of meaning and fulfillment.

But often we lose ourselves in the identity of work —

in the personas (masks and costumes) we put on

the roles we play —

and whatever fleeting, illusory constructs and/or possessions to which we cling to define “success” —

to define

our

selves

as

“successful.”

And as such, many of us find our selves woefully out of balance —

dis-sonant —

dis-cordant —

dis-harmonious —

our lives a constant cacophony of noise, tumult and frenetic activity

pushing hard to be-come (i.e. ‘appear as’) “successful” —

to prove our selves as

“some body” —

filling every waking moment

(and often every non-waking moment as well!)

with continual activity

(whether mental, emotional or physical) —

restless

dis-content

dis-satisfied

—

burning the candle incessantly,

until our inner fire is nearly extinguished —

the wick charred and brittle —

the candle worn away —

reduced to an unrecognizable heap.

“Busy-ness” —

our

smokescreen.

“Crazy busy” —

we boast

as if it were a badge of honour.

We dull our True Inner Light

in the ephemeral mists

of accomplishment, achievement, comfort, pleasure and possession,

to keep our self —

(ironically enough) —

from

our

Self—

to keep our self from true authenticity and intimacy

with our True Self

and with other manifestations of Self.

Can the Way of Nature —

the Nature of the Way —

be realized

when we are continually

distressed and distracted?

Observe how our brothers and sisters —

the trees

the flowers

the grass —

how they naturally grow

in

silence.

Notice how

the sun

the moon

and the stars

move

in

silence.

Likewise, the Way of All Things

is naturally found

in

still

silent

communion.

Today, you have the freedom

and the opportunity to

like Maryam and Marta —

choose “the better part” —

to step back for a little while

from the chores,

the to-do lists,

the over-crowded calendar

and the incessant, nagging demands and distractions

of meetings, phone calls, emails, news feeds and tweets.

Today, you are being offering a gift —

the opportunity and the freedom

to choose

the

better

part —

to rest in the power of Now —

to put down the ever-increasing burden of duties, requirements, obligations, expectations and ego-desires

that keep you at arms length

from True Intimacy —

that keep you a stranger

to

your

Self.

Perhaps, my friend, you are carrying heavy burdens —

cares and worries —

like poor Marta,

who was so concerned with the ‘pots and pans’ —

always running around,

filling up your life with an endless stream of activities —

trying to distill your worth and value down

from the personas

(i.e. the masks and costumes)

you wear

and the roles

you play —

the positions you hold,

the work you do,

the diplomas, degrees and awards you have earned,

or the good deeds and charitable acts of service you do for others —

always on the go —

huffing and puffing on the treadmill of life —

overworked,

anxious,

worried,

fearful,

sick,

tired,

and

completely

fed

up.

Well, for all you poor Martas today…

may you heed the voice of Wisdom

beckoning to you —

and receive the welcome to...

come…

stop the fussing and the fretting —

(if even just for a little while) —

find a quiet place —

put up the ‘do not disturb’ sign —

set the mobile device to ‘airplane mode’ —

sit,

rest,

listen,

breathe,

be…

right here

right now.

Fully awake,

fully alive,

fully present,

fully engaged,

fully human,

fully divine —

in the power of Now —

in the pure, simple, trust, joy and childlike wonder

of your own Be-ing-ness.

Come, my friends.

Come

and

choose

the

better

part.

May your every breath be peace, light and Infinite, Ineffable Love.

Not two.

/|\

— a literary adaptation of a story, as recorded in The Good News According to Lu’qa (Luke)

(1) Yeshu’a an Nasiri Ihidaya is Aramaic for Jesus The Nazarene, One Who Is Awake