"You have the choice to say yes to God or to say yes to your ego. And it's a very definite choice. I have seen people choose not necessarily knowing that they have chosen but I've seen it. They rapidly drift away from the path, and suddenly they are back in the world. Maybe they get something they always thought they wanted like a new career, or a new lover in their life, and they don't know that they have said no, but they have said no. They were given a choice." ~Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee from the Golden Sufi Center
I find myself back in the world. I want to return to the path.
24 comments:
It is hard to stay on the path but possible and admire those who do. I think we tend to weave in and out of the traffic but usually stay on the road once we begin the journey. To not worry about it is the key. Every highway has an exit ramp just as it has an on ramp. Just be.
"I" is the world.
You are the path!
The Path. Next stop Jonestown.
There is no path to no destination. What you search begins and ends within you.
Nice to visit your blog Sophia!
Hi Sophia, I post my reply here for your deeply worded question in your previous post: "Does anyone out there know this material besides this guy? Is giving up attachments to family and friends that important to making progress on this path?
If anyone knows what this is about, please make contact.
I don't know if this is a real spiritual hunger or if it's madness. I have things getting in my way of reaching these goals, really silly crazy human things.
I've been looking for answers for more than three years now." I am able to feel the pull of your search almost! You may visit my blog sites: Aham: http://www.swahilya.blogspot.com and the links there Bamboo Wisdom, Cosmic Consciousness, .soulmate. and Between the lines. Aham, Bamboo and Cosmic I would recommend. May get in touch with me at swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com
I kind of feel you may find an answer this way!
Love. Swahilya.
My blog is one of the "disciplines" I engage in to stay on the Path...
Here's a poem I wrote many years ago that recently became more true:
Endings
Worn to the nub and sharply
Wizened to the core—
Never to be fooled again; but,
Waiting at the well...
Jon,
That was so beautifully allegorical. Thank you for the thoughts.
I've hopped on and off the highway a few times now, but every time I end-up back on the road again. I guess this is where I belong.
Mossy,
Could you elucidate? Inquiring minds want to know! Thanks. :)
Siegfried,
It's a long and winding road.
Anonymous,
Not to worry. I'm not going to let anyone brainwash me. I'm too intelligent for that. Trust me.
Swahilya,
Thank you for your visit and for your comments. Off and on this morning I've been looking into your blogs. You have a lot of information available.
I briefly explored Hinduism when I was in college, thanks to a course I took called Religions of the East. My professor opened the door to my spirituality. I would love to tell her this someday.
Thank you for your offer and have a splendid day!
Alex,
These blogs certainly help to keep us focused! Not only that but they allow us to give and receive support to and from others, which also helps keep us moving forward.
Your poem is very mysterious and I'm moved to ask you about its meaning. What are you waiting for at the well?
Sophia,
Ten years ago, I was waiting at the well of relationship...
Now, I'm waiting at the well of well-being (hep c treatments, etc.)
~ Alex
Alex,
I like your play with words, here.
You're doing a wonderful job staying strong during your treatments. I wish you well-being in both body and soul. Stay strong and keep moving forward!
That is a good quote.
I find I am easily distracted from the path too. I despair of myself sometimes!
As my teacher said, "Choose to choose or choose not to choose....either way you choose."
Rob
Of course,
The concept of "I" is what most strongly connects us to the world (illusury world). For example: "I have this job" or "I have these problems" or "I think that things should be different than they are".
More neutral thoughts like, "There is snow on the mountains" allow us to experience the world but not be attached to it.
When we say "I want to be different" it sounds a little ironic because it is "I" again, trying to create more "I"llusions.
Rob,
How right your teacher is! I love that kind of crazy wisdom.
The mundane world has a strong pull on our attentions. I think that is so because we need to take a break every now and then. :)
Mossy,
Thank you so much for explaining that.
It would be nice if I had mountains to look at. But I guess I'll settle for the grey cubicle walls I work in. :(
:) I know what you mean, though.
I wonder if anyone reading this blog has had experience with the Charismatic Catholic movement. Traditional Catholics run screaming from the experience. Church administration keeps working to pull them back, with varying degrees of success.
Happily_anonymous
I had never heard of the Charismatic Catholic Renewal. I see it involves speaking in tongues and healing, and that it's a high-energy meeting.
This reminds me of the Shakers.
Well I'll never know what the deleted reply had to say, too bad.
In thinking a little more about "the path" that keeps getting referred to I have come to the conclusion that the only path is one that depends on self in order to exist. I cannot possible, for example, take anyone else's path any more than they can take mine. Mossy's "I" is crucial to all spirituality, but specifically to the path one selects and takes through their own life.
Therefore:
The path does not await a person who does not actively seek it.
I can only discuss what I discover about my world and universe. I am no worthy judge to determine whether what I think has validity for anyone else, but it sure works for me.
Happily_anonymous
There is a real I. However when I say I then I am not there in that moment. At that moment I have created an image (or thought or identity) (called "I") which I imagine to be myself while neglecting the real experience of and awareness of being.
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