“Being infinitely patient means having an absolute knowing that you’re in vibrational harmony with the all-creating force that intended you here. You know that everything will happen at just the right time, at just the right place, with just the right people.â€
“Happiness, fulfillment and purpose in life are all inner concepts. If you don’t have inner peace and serenity, then you have nothing.â€
Today I am writing about the subject most dear to me, which is spirituality. I was struck by these recent inspirational thoughts from Dr Wayne Dyer.
What struck me is how these thoughts are exactly the same as expressed by the three spiritual teachers who are most significant for me: Jesus, Buddha and Lao Tsu.
When I was a young seeker, at age 14, a most enlightened Jesuit priest encouraged me to throw all belief out the door, question everything, find out for myself. This was not how I’d been taught religion or belief – up to that point it had been rote memorization and coerced belief backed by threat of punishment.
What Fr. Breaux did was certainly not in the objectives of the Jesuit organization, which was to turn out well educated, strong men. Men who were good Catholics. Perhaps Fr. Breaux saw that in the long run, strength of spirituality is the most desired state, no matter the religious affiliation of the person. I am forever grateful to him. He gave me permission to explore and come up with the best spiritual way for me. He gave me permission to follow the path no matter where it leads, even if it’s off a cliff!
So, I started on a life long path of spiritual exploration. I haven’t practiced as intensely as some, I tend to study something, put it aside, and come back to it later. Over the years, I’ve picked up the essence of many teachings, done some of the practices, and certainly benefited in terms of knowledge, wisdom and comfort. (By the way, I make no claims when it comes to knowledge. I view myself, as pretty much the biggest fool out there, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I stumble off cliffs all the time!).
What I’ve been struck by lately is how closely the teachings of Jesus, Buddha and Lao Tsu align. All of them speak about finding happiness and fulfillment within. All of them speak of enlightenment as being found within.
There are many sages, teachers and prophets: Daniel, Moses, Aaron, James, Paul, Paramahansa Yogananda, Mohamed, and so on, including contemporary teachers, such as Dr. Wayne.
Almost all teach the same in essence. The three I mention above speak to me.
One thing about the three I mention is that they pretty much focus on the here and now, and on compassion and emotional pragmatism. All three avoid much mention of metaphysics, life after death and so on. If “the Kingdom of Heaven†and “the Father†are meant to signify Enlightenment and the Creative Intelligence, then most of what Jesus is saying in that regard is not metaphysical but rather pertains to our state of consciousness in the Now. He is teaching us about achieving Redemption, or enlightenment in the here and now. He is teaching us how to live so that we can be more closely united with God. He is stern, but loving and compassionate. He points out the truth bluntly. He shows his own trials and moments of doubt, so that we can learn to get through our own challenges.
I choose to believe that is what Jesus means.
So, where am I going with all this? For starters, I realize there are a number of topics I’d like to cover, including Jesus as a Buddhist, my path as a Christian (just call me a “radical Catholic), my practice as a Druid (I belong to OBOD – Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids), my readings on Lao Tsu, sexuality and religion, etc. Lot’s of hot air coming this way! Finally, something to write interminably long dense essays about! Probably not though, my attention span is shorter than a Superbowl commercial.
What I am writing about is my spiritual journey, my walk on the good red road of life, of consciousness. To talk about what I’ve seen. Mostly to understand what I’ve seen, and where I’ve walked. If I happen to leave a sign post for anyone else, then great.
If this is mostly blather, then move on, do the things important to you! I’ll try to keep it entertaining. Ultimately I’m doing it for myself, to get all this out of my darn head.
Stop, voices, stop!
I approach all metaphysics, and explanations for the mysteries of existence with a healthy skepticism. I’m definitely a doubter, just like Thomas was with Christ.
There are times when a leap of faith, based on intuition, must happen. I am perfectly capable of that as well.
My spiritual practice is enhanced by my Enlightenment oriented rationality. I am an adherent of the scientific method, and as such retain a healthy skepticism of all beliefs, unless proven scientifically.
Science is probably our most valuable tool. When the left-brain rose to dominance in the 16th century, and rationality replaced mythical thinking, it allowed us to make many needed advances in understanding the material world, the world of “mayaâ€. This has brought us increased wealth and prosperity in general – look at the world population! That’s a sign of a successful species!
In cultivating and developing our rational, individual mind, we threw out our trust in right brain, intuitive knowing. The right brain works in symbols, systems, and groups. It’s holistic, emotional and image oriented. It is non-linear. It is a deeper way of knowing and understanding.
It was necessary, I suppose, to suppress the right brain in favor of the left. We’ve now come to the point where the left-brain, while important, has taken us as far as it can.
The right brain is now becoming ascendant. There is evidence of this all over, even in the challenges we face as a species. Solving our problems is less about tools now, and more about design. Design is a right brain activity. Much of what we do now on a daily basis in the West is right brain related. Daniel Pink writes about this concisely in A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future.
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The derogatorily named pseudo-sciences are not sciences. They are beyond science, on a different level. They are intuitive arts. They have more to do with our consciousness, and the way the mind works with imagery, and with the free play nature of time and matter (which we’ve seen suggested in sub-quantum physics research).
I work with the intuitive arts – trance, tarot, astrology, the I Ching, and other oracular devices. Just like the Old Testament prophets, we must all journey into the Dreamtime to bring back understanding of our reality. I don’t “believe†in them in the literal, material sense; I work with them as tools of understanding the mysteries. The Tao. Creation.
To get back to the quotes that opened this post, both of them express much of the essence of what the great three teach. That’s one of the great things about Dr. Wayne: he essentially re-communicates the essentials for moderns to understand.
“Happiness, fulfillment and purpose in life are all inner concepts. If you don’t have inner peace and serenity, then you have nothing.â€
When I choose to find my fulfillment and purpose by looking within, then I also find happiness. When I remember to stay serene, I achieve inner peace. When I have these inner states, then the world is mine. When I fall off, forget, or grasp on to the world, then I have nothing. Just despair.
Jesus, Lao Tsu and Buddha all teach us to let go, stay detached, avoid striving. All three tell us that when we do that, we achieve the Kingdom of Heaven, Nirvana, alignment with the Tao.
“Being infinitely patient means having an absolute knowing that you’re in vibrational harmony with the all-creating force that intended you here. You know that everything will happen at just the right time, at just the right place, with just the right people.â€
I have found that when I remember to look within for guidance, and to stay detached, serene and compassionate; then I can practice infinite patience. I can remember that I am exactly where I am needed or intended. If I can stay present, then every event does seem to flow, every meeting seems significant, and every person shines more brightly with the Light.
The Light of God, the all-creating force. May all our days be filled with the Light!
Happy Solstice!