Take
the Plunge
“Plunge
in. Eventually you have to stop trying to figure out where you are, if you want
to get somewhere else…That’s what the spiritual journey is like. You need discipline
to persist when the going gets rough or uncertain, faith to stick it out—to the
end.”
Ram
Dass (Journey of Awakening, p.44)
Choosing a spiritual path
is part of the journey. We all begin in the middle of a circle surrounded by paths
leading out, beyond which we cannot see. What we are looking for is a
connection with divine wisdom. We know that a source beyond our infinitely
limited brains is there, somewhere, and available to us if only we can find the
way. Just the business of seeking is part of the process.
Some people land on
prayer, some on meditation, some on structured practices like tai chi, yoga, or
mindfulness. Some of us find guided meditations or podcasts by spiritual teachers
helpful, and some of us prefer books. Some are content to read scripture and
stay within the structure of an identified tradition. Some of us look to our
experiences in the natural world. Often, we try a little bit of everything and
like tossing a salad, we look for what tastes right in the moment. Eventually, if
we persist, we find what works for us; what suits our nature. It’s all good,
because it means that we have set our feet on the path and we are not turning
back.
In the Journey of
Awakening, Ram Dass compared this search to navigating a small plane over an
ocean. We can set coordinates and use the stars and sun for direction, but when
we look down, all we see is the vastness of the ocean. It is our faith and
trust that keeps us on course. We must ask for guidance and expect to receive
it. We must knock and announce ourselves before the door will open. Plunge in. You’re
already on the path if you are reading this. There is no astrolabe, no compass.
There is only you and divine wisdom. And that is enough.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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